Publication

This briefing examines Macedonia's evolution from the 2001 peace agreement to the candidacy for membership in the European Union. The authors emphasize that a successful EU candidacy depends on key reforms. Particular attention is paid to reforms in the police and judicial sector, to the planned repatriation of war crime cases from the Hague Tribunal in 2006, and to the tensions with the Islamic community in Macedonia. The briefing argues that an inadequate reform process would strongly curtail the ability of the country to address and prevent future political challenges and crises.