EU Enlargement Commissioner Makes Surprise Visit in Macedonia

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele has paid a surprise visit to the Macedonian capital Skopje.

Following the General Affairs Council of December 2012, Commissioner for Enlargement and European neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fuele visited Skopje today, the EC Delegation in the Macedonian capital said in a statement Wednesday.

According to the brief announcement, Fuele met with Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and the leader of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia Branko Crvenkovski.

"In the meetings he reviewed preparations for the Spring Report. The Commissioner had useful discussions with his interlocutors. Commissioner Fuele will return to Skopje in due course in the context of the High Level Accession Dialogue," the EC office in the Macedonian capital said.

Fuele's visit comes at a moment of severe political crisis in Macedonia interspersed with street protests. Last week the opposition MPs led by ex President and ex PM Branko Crvenkovski left the parliament in protest with demands that the government of VMRO-DMPNE step down.

Earlier on Wednesday, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev made a strong statement regarding Macedonia making it clear that Bulgaria was ready to veto the former's EU membership application unless Macedonia committed to good-neighborly relations, including by signing a friendship treaty.