EU concerned about Macedonia’s grinding political crisis

SKOPJE, Macedonia – The European Union’s top official in Macedonia has expressed “serious concern” over the lack of progress in overcoming the country’s enduring political crisis, which was triggered by a wiretapping scandal.

The head of the EU delegation in Macedonia, Aivo Orav, said Friday that the EU “is seriously concerned” over the situation and, “regrettably” has not seen much progress.

Political turmoil has rocked Macedonia for 15 months, following opposition allegations that the governing conservatives illegally wiretapped about 20,000 people, including judges, police, politicians, foreign diplomats and journalists.

The country’s top politicians agreed to an EU-brokered deal earlier this year, under which then-Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski stepped down. That paved the way for early elections but they have been postponed twice and squabbling political parties have yet to agree on a date.