Supporting the SEE countries on their path towards European integration is a core task of the Stability Pact.   The Macedonian EU membership application is thus, in the eyes of Special Co-ordinator Erhard Busek, another indication of the determination of the countries of the region to further integrate into Europe.  However, it must also mean that FYR Macedonia not only remains committed to the reform process but also increases its scope.  Applying for EU membership means assuming increased responsibilities including enhancing relations with neighbouring countries, as the EU has clearly stated that regional cooperation is a condition for further integration.  On his visit to Skopje last December, Special Coordinator Busek was informed by the Macedonian Government, that they were aware of this dimension and view the membership application as an additional incentive to accelerate the reform process.  Busek emphasised the importance of the Stabilisation and Association Process and the Stability Pact, as mechanisms to ensure FYR Macedonia’s transformation is fully in line with EU norms and procedures. 

Macedonian participation in the Stability Pact has been very active from the beginning.  It has played a leading role in the Stability Pact-led Trade Liberalisation Process and in fact chaired the Trade Working Group between 2000 and 2003.  To date this process has led to the completion of 27 free trade agreements among SEE countries in just over 2 years.  The creation of a free trade area of 55 Mio consumers will help to attract investments to SEE as well as increasing intra-regional trade and trade with third parties particularly the EU.  Participation in the free trade process will further enhance the ability of the SEE economies to prepare for eventual inclusion into the EU internal market.  Macedonia will assume the co-chair of the Security Working Table from June 2004 and the Regional Table this year will take place in Skopje in the second half of the year.

Processing of the membership application is the sole competence of the EU member states and EU institutions.