country over several years with the then ruling party, party, ruling then the with years over several country entire the consumed had that crisis apolitical of end the marked government new the of election The Crisis Political Prolonged edge of the precipice. to the country the bringing and himself, Zaev Zoran including MPs, opposition then the of to several injuries serious causing 27 on April Parliament the national community, erupted while violence inside ernment despite repeated requests from the inter agov to form mandate over the to hand weeks eral over sev President the of refusal by the preceded was It traumatic. itself in was power of transfer The coalition. the of part being without government the to support agreed MPs, five with movement BESA the Party, Albanian ethnic A third MPs. three with Sela, by Ziadin led Albanians, for Alliance the 10 and with MPs, Ahmeti, by Ali led (DUI), tion banian the parties, Democratic Union for Integra (out 120), of Parliament in Al ethnic MPs two and 49 with SDSM the includes government coalition The into office. elected was (SDSM), Macedonia of Union Democratic Social the of leader Zaev, the 31On May, 2017, by Zoran led government anew Former EUSpecialRepresentativeinMacedonia Centre forEuropeanPolicy Studies(CEPS), Brussels Associate SeniorResearch Fellow Erwan Fouéré Democratic Standards A Return the to Rule of Law and The New Government in Macedonia – |Western Balkans Overview Geographical 2 1 Committee of the Regions. 9/11//2016 Regions. the (2016) of COM 715 Final Committee

Recommendations of the Senior Experts’ Group on systemic Rule of Law issues, 2015 2017. and issues, Law of Rule systemic on Group Experts’ Senior the of Recommendations the and Committee Social and Economic European the Council, the Parliament, European the to Commission the from Communication - - - - - and other senior officials from the VMRO-DPMNE. the from officials senior other and alleged corrupt practices by government ministers and power of 2015, abuse of evidence January with of scandal wiretapping the in revealed power” tive execu by the prosecution and judiciary the of capture the “massive invasion of fundamental rights” and “the to pointed Commission, European by the requested reports), Priebe (the Law of so-called Rule temic Sys on Group Experts Senior by the up drawn ports ber 2012 was the first of many red lines crossed by crossed 2012 lines ber red many of first the was chamber together with all journalists on 24 Decem Parliament the from MPs opposition SDSM the of the deepening political The crisis. forced expulsion of 2015, signs even before But warning were there tutions and key areas of society.” of key areas and tutions insti democratic of functioning the affecting capture to state due particular in challenged, constantly been have law of rule the and “Democracy stated: mission 2016, of Com Report European the Progress its In ercise its control over society. to ex choice of weapons its as intimidation and fear used which party, ruling by the sent inspectors tax by waves of harassment and to intimidation subject were organizations society Civil 2009. in place 34th 111th in edonia 2017, in place from drop ahuge Mac ranking Borders without Reporters dramatic, was decline the freedom, media of case the In lute. abso was process electoral the and media the ary, judici the including institutions state the over all trol con Its rule. authoritarian an imposing 2006, since power in Gruevski, by Nikola led (VMRO-DPMNE), Unity National Macedonian for Party - Democratic Organization Revolutionary Macedonian Internal the 1 Meanwhile the re the Meanwhile 2 ------

IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2018 195 Geographical Overview | Western Balkans Panorama IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2018 196 Geographical Overview | Western Balkans Panorama Macedonia but also in the entire region. It is they they is It region. entire the in also but Macedonia in just not governance, in media the and society civil of role the support and to recognize more do should which EU, the for lesson important an also is This law. of to rule the areturn for calling revolution’ ‘colourful munities under the so-called com ethnic all from citizens of thousands by rallying party ruling then the of tactics intimidation the defied cial role played by civil society organizations who had cru the recognized it doing, so In governance. wards to approach inclusive its demonstrated office in year first its in has and media, the with and organizations ency. It launched an open dialogue with civil society transpar and openness of one with regime previous the of intimidation and fear the replacing and spect, re and tolerance of language the adopting tone, a new setting in time no lost government his and Zaev Yet chalice. Zoran apoisoned as government new the facing to task the referred many that wonder small openleft wounds in a deeply polarized society, it is has which trauma, of period aprolonged such After Law? of Rule the to -Return Government New under multiple investigations for criminal offences. put were party the from officials senior and he both ter even af leader its and party the to defend continuing by responsibility shares also amember, is DPMNE VMRO- the which of People’s Party, European The VMRO-DPMNE. by the impunity of sense creased toin an contributed This commitments. pledged the all of up follow proper the to ensure mechanism enforcement any place in to put law, of failed rule it the 2015 July 2016, July in at restoring again and aimed June/ in parties political main the between agreement an by mediating intervene did finally EU the When litical criteria.” po the meet to sufficiently continues country the all “Over that stated 2014, Commission European the 2013 both of Reports and Yet,sis. Progress its in cri worsening the of to depth the institutions EU the have alerted should EU the to join aspiring country a of expected standards democratic the uphold and law of rule the to respect later. failure Its years five office of voted out being before VMRO-DPMNE the 3 Committee of Regions. 16/10/2013 8/10/2014 and (2014) (2013) COM Final COM Regions. Final of 700 700 Committee

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the the and Committee Social and Economic European the Council, the Parliament, European the to Commission the from Communication 3 ------ment remains that of ensuring due process for all the the all for process due ensuring of that remains ment institutions, the for most urgent priority the govern state the in confidence public to restoring addition In Peace’ No Justice, ‘No andexpertise competence. their than rather party to ruling the allegiance their was bodies to these officials senior of appointment the for criteria the where practices past of repetition to avoid so, a rightly and cautious extremely been regime remain in Minister The place. Prime has previous by the appointed officials the of many so that fact by the difficult more the all made however is task government’s The Corruption. of Prevention the for Commission the as such bodies, oversight and supervisory regulatory, the of pendence oversightmentary mechanisms, as well as inde curity and intelligence with effective services parlia se the of reform prosecution, and enforcement law judiciary, the of functioning independent and proper to the particular in relate These ommendations. coveringgramme the most urgent reforms and rec pro 3-6-9 so-called the adopted government the office, taking from months two Within Group. perts’ Ex Senior the of reports mentioned above the in contained recommendations the and EU by the out set reforms overdue long and needed to much the The government also demonstrated its commitment and regime with one of openness intimidation of the previous and replacing the fear and lost no time in setting anew tone, Zoran Zaev and his government mocracies. de functioning in granted for we take balances and checks normal the of absence the in countability ac government to ensure placed best are who transparency ------continued support from DUI remains vital for from DUI continued the support coalition’s in Parliament thin, majority being razor the governing the With leadership. DUI by the rebuffed were opposition the with way the forward on sensus MinisterPrime to gain more time in building a con by the attempts all amendments, many so bling by ta Parliament of work the to block trying fectively ef was opposition the year. While last of January in negotiations coalition aborted their in RO-DPMNE VM by the agreed been had law this leadership, DUI to the according even though, amendments, 35,000 tabled then VMRO-DPMNE vote. The second a and discussion further for to Parliament returned it into law, bill the to sign refused VMRO-DPMNE, the to aligned closely remains who President, the After within the coalition government. tension of asource become has Parliament through pushed been has it which in manner the ment, agree coalition the of part was this Although guage. the use of Albanian alongside the lan Macedonian to recognition increased law, giving alanguage of adoption the for DUI, the particular in partners, tion coali Albanian ethnic the of insistence by the fore to the brought was This at stake. interests peting com with government acoalition leading is he that is Minister Prime the facing challenge huge Another Dynamics Coalition pressure. political from free judiciary ent independ an from expected as responsibilities their fulfil and behaviour their change will RO-DPMNE, VM the of agents as acted number, who in ever small how judges, those whether tell will time only years, many so for country the dominated which politics partisan the In question. open an remains law of rule the on based democracy afunctioning in institution independent an as itself conduct and reforms essary nec the undertake itself of will judiciary the Whether politicized remains judiciary a serious obstacle. ahighly of legacy The impunity. of to perception the adding convicted, successfully yet been has one no 2015 cases, September in these tolished investigate estab Office Prosecutor’s Special the of efforts best the Despite Peace.’ No Justice, ‘No was revolution’ ‘colourful the of mantra The old. years now over three scandal, wiretapping the in to light brought ruption cor and power of abuse activities, criminal of cases ------image as a defender of Albanian language rights and and rights language Albanian of adefender as image its to it burnish for opportunity agolden provided thus law language The 2008. in coalition the joined first from its core constituency having had 18 when it MPs support of alot lost party DUI the behaviour, tionalist na party’s ruling by the caused tensions inter-ethnic even after the corruption revelations and increased By remaining so long within the previous government, coalition). the DPA in was party Albanian ethnic rival to 2017 2008 from its -2008, ment 2006 (between govern VMRO-DPMNE the with then and OFA, the the constitutionalspearheaded reforms required by successfully which to up 2006, government SDSM 13 the for with 17 those of first coalition erning years, agov in (OFA), been has it Agreement Framework Ohrid EU/NATO-mediated the and 2001 conflict the following country the in force apolitical as DUI the of establishment the ever since that noting worth is It the coalition government asourcebecome of tension within in pushed which been has it has the coalition agreement, the manner of language Macedonian was part the use of Albanian alongside the law, giving recognition increased to Although the adoption of alanguage gard for the overall impact in the country. the in impact overall the for gard re little with partisan purely was motivation its that impression the gives Parliament through law this pushing in behaved DUI the which in manner the contrary, the Quite relations. inter-ethnic enhance to anything does actually law this whether tionable ques is it environment fragile this In Court. tional to Constitu law the the refer will opposition the that likely also is It opinion. its for Venice Commission have to to go the case any in will law The adoption. to prior opinion its for to Venice Commission the law proposed the to submit agreed DUI the had ed able parliamentary boycott could have been avoid predict opposition’s the with year this March in law the of adoption the following fallout inevitable The with if little any margin for manoeuvre. government’s leaving the survival, Minister Prime ------

IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2018 197 Geographical Overview | Western Balkans Panorama IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2018 198 Geographical Overview | Western Balkans Panorama perception remains that with Greece as a member The at adisadvantage. clearly is government nian Macedo the to EU the comes it when Nimetz, thew Mat mediator by UN led to be continue dispute this to resolve negotiations the Although government? Greek by the imposed a19-month of blockade face 1995 in the in changed already was constitution the even though Macedonia,” of irredentism “the calls repeatedly President Greek the what of ments ele all to eliminate constitution its change should Macedonia that to insist continues which ment, govern Greek the to satisfy sufficient be this Will year. last of August in the Friendship agreement concluded with Bulgaria to strengthen relations with its neighbours, such as made has it overtures many by the evidenced further is faith good government’s The dismantled. been have or already being are Great the Alexander ing populist behaviourheavy-handed aimed at glorify government’s previous the of symbols Various tion. solu acceptable amutually to find will good ment’s Greek counterpart and demonstrating the govern already taken significant steps in engaging with his has Zaev Minister Prime negotiations. accession ing open of stage to next the move forward can edonia Mac before agreed be must dispute name standing to long the asolution that insistence government’s Greek the with remains However, hurdle ahuge lasting reforms. to commitment and efforts government’s the of tion Thiscal crisis. would signal an recogni important 2015 politi the since of because recommendation that of suspension following negotiations, opening for set be adate that recommendation the confirm 17 on to re published to be April, Report Country its in Commission, European the expecting is ment govern the office, up took it since achieved gress pro the all of view in and setbacks, these Despite Negotiations? Accession EU Block Dispute Name the Will leave it open to understandable and justified criticism. ocratic standards during the previous government, dem and law of rule the of defence weak to its dition ad in respect, this in used it tactics the But OFA. the 4

F ouéré , Erwan. “ Erwan. Is the EU turning a blind eye to the ‘new strongmen’ of the Balkans, the of strongmen’ ‘new the to eye ablind EU turning the Is ------posed to ‘strongmen.’ op as institutions strong words, other In region. kan Bal Western the in needed badly so is which tions, law and proper functioning of democratic institu of rule the on based governance inclusive promote to efforts to government’s the legitimacy hanced en give also would It space. breathing needed much government the give would negotiations accession of opening the and EU the from Support environment. legal and political the in change positive the to consolidate order in time more need will government the 82 municipalities, the of over two-thirds winning coalition the with ernment gov new the for vote confidence of overwhelming gave an October last elections local the though Al beginning. the from right for campaigning been has opposition the which elections early of danger to avoid the united coalition to the keep need will He even keel. an on sailing and afloat state of ship to the keep tiller the on hand a firm to maintain need will he run, long the in to succeed Minister Prime the For complex. and vast remain government new the facing challenges the underlines, article this As Conclusion based? is project integration European the which on values and principles the all against go not this Does EU. the towards mistrust deep increases and Macedonia, in case the clearly is as agenda anationalist fuels also it accession, for set conditions the in fairness of element the undermine it does only Not disputes. to bilateral hostage cess pro accession the holding States Member vidual indi of impact negative the underlines dispute This run. long the in counterproductive be could sions which will increase internal divisions and to conces make forced be will Macedonia tions, negotia accession of opening the for Council pean Euro the from light green the getting of sake the for that remains danger The dispute. this in made ready al has Macedonia that concessions many the after even country the on pressure any put not will and Greece behind hiding is it that impression the gives EU the contrary, player. the Quite aneutral or ker bro honest an as act not does latter the EU, the of ” Centre for European Policy Studies, 11 2016. July, Studies, Policy European for ” Centre 4 ------