WRITTEN QUESTION E-2167/03 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Permanent solution to the problem of addressing the sensitivities surrounding the name of the state of Macedonia, taking account of the different demands of Macedonians, Albanians and Greeks.
Date: 2003-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: North Macedonia, historical geography, settlement of disputes

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/79

(2004/C 70 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2167/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(30 June 2003)

Subject: Permanent solution to the problem of addressing the sensitivities surrounding the name of the
state of Macedonia, taking account of the different demands of Macedonians, Albanians and
Greeks

Does the Council recall that, following the withdrawal of the Republic of Macedonia from the former
1.
Yugoslav Federation, demands were made to add a specific designation to the name of the country to
distinguish it
from Greek Macedonia, which incorporates the three northern regions bordering the
Republic of Macedonia and the Aegean Sea?

in a
How long can the provisional compromise reached in 1993 be maintained under which,
2.
reference to the recent past, the words ‘former Yugoslav’ were inserted before the name ‘Republic of
Macedonia’, in the light of the fact that the name ‘Macedonia’ is commonly used by everyone both within
and outside the country, while the obscure English abbreviation ‘FYROM’ is used by the EU and certain
other states?

3.
Can the Council confirm that in 1993 other extended names were also considered which did not
relate to the past but to the present and future, such as Northern Macedonia, Nova Macedonia, Vardar
Macedonia or Slavo-Macedonia? Was the latter name only dropped because the one-sided emphasis on a
single large population group resulted in objections from the predominantly non-Slav population in the
north and west?

4.
Does the Council consider, following the recognition, encouraged by the EU, of the equality of the
two population groups which each form the majority in their respective regions of the country, that it
would help contribute to permanent peaceful coexistence on the part of the two peoples in a common
state if the names of both majority populations were to be included in the extension (cid:1) sought by those
outside (cid:1) of the official name of the country?

Is the Council prepared,

in order to achieve a definitive solution and finally abandon the name
5.
‘FYROM’, to look into whether a compromise between all concerned can be reached on the basis of a
name like ‘Makedonija-Ilirdia’ or variants in which ‘Shipero’ or ‘Albano’ are added to the name of the
country?

Reply

(8 December 2003)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that the EU recognises the country in question as ‘the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’. This is also the name under which is was admitted as a Member
to the United Nations on 8 April 1993 pending settlement of the difference that had arisen over its name.

It is up to the countries and parties most concerned, not to the Council, to come to a final understanding
on the issue.

(2004/C 70 E/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2200/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(27 June 2003)

Subject: Speech of the Commission President on religion and the European Constitution (Alessano, Lecce,

Italy, 13 June 2003)

On 13 June 2003, at a meeting in Alessano (Lecce) organised by the Don Tonino Bello foundation, the
President of
the European Commission spoke on the above subject of religion and the European
Constitution. Mr Prodi said: ‘(…) Religion is one of the fundamental values of Europe and (…) the history
of Europe and the history of Christianity are indissolubly linked. Consequently, I regard the Preamble to
the draft European Constitution as wholly inadequate. To ignore 1500 years of civilisation is to create a