"It will be furthermore important to accept all the recommendations being given by the European Commission when it comes to the independence of the judiciary. We have agreed to apply the methodology usually used when we negotiate the chapters 23 and 24. Also, we have yet no negotiations, but it is about rule of law, independence of justice, freedom of media etc." said Hahn.
Read my statement following my meeting with political leaders in #Skopje http://t.co/yGoXZTKrjH
— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) June 2, 2015
Gruevski has been hit with a series of accusations against him and his ministers contained in taped conversations that appear to expose tight government control over journalists, judges and the conduct of elections.
Interference by Foreign Agencies
The opposition accuses Gruevski of orchestrating the surveillance of over 20,000 people and is demanding his resignation. Gruevski says the wire taps, indicating election fraud and abuse of the justice system, were "created” by unnamed foreign intelligence services, doctored and drip-fed to the opposition parties since February in an effort to destabilize the country.
#Skopje #macedonia anti-gov camp “@RAtanasovski: pic.twitter.com/mUpgLvmQQZ”
— Elena Kostovska (а) (@elenakostovska) May 25, 2015
Commissioner Hahn said further talks would be held in Brussels next week to reach "final deal, a final agreement, which allows the country to head on, and to use this current crisis as an opportunity to modernize the country, to lead it into the future."
There are growing calls for Gruevski to resign and anti-government protesters have set up dozens of tents in front of his government office, saying they will stay until he steps down.
