Eduard Kukan (PPE). – Madam President, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the rapporteur for his good work.

We have been dealing with the political crisis in Macedonia for the past two years. I would really like to see the light at the end of the tunnel, yet democracy in Macedonia is still politically paralysed and the victims are the citizens of the country and hence the integration process itself. Let me say this clearly: it is in our utmost interest to see a strong and democratic Macedonia coming onto the EU path.

We do appreciate the positive role that the country has played and can play in the region, yet democratic development and political stability are the key pillars on which it needs to be built. I am concerned at the deepening of the political crisis. Like many others, I would also like to call on the President of the country to fulfil his responsibility in the process of forming a new government composed of political parties with a real majority in the parliament. In addition, the parliament should itself start working according to the normal procedures.