WHY EUROPE? WHY NOW? FIVE REASONS WHY THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL SHOULD SET A DATE FOR OPENING ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS WITH MACEDONIA

This Policy Brief analyses the current state of affairs with regards to the EU Accession of Macedonia, as well as the state of affairs in the European Union. The brief takes into account the state of EUphoria in the society in Macedonia and the level of public support for Accession, as well as the findings of the European Commission’s Country Report. While, discussion is based on various media reports, as well as the debates at Sofia Summit, and the Strategy for Western Balkan Enlargement. The Policy Brief uses data from #Eurometer2017 and #Eurometer2018, as well as analysis of the Accession Log, the Comparative Analysis of the EC Country Reports, as well as media reports and official documents. Through the analysis, the brief tries to answer the two crucial questions: “Why Europe?” and “Why Now?” offering also a list of five reasons why the European Council should set a date for opening Accession Negotiations with Macedonia.