I welcome the fact that the parties in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have now agreed – following lengthy endeavours, many rounds of negotiations and talks – to hold early elections. The consensus is in keeping with the Pržino Agreement of June 2015.

It is now crucial to implement the agreement on further procedures until the elections credibly and rapidly. A situation whereby the country falls further behind on its path to further integration with the EU must be prevented. In this context, it is important that the special prosecutor’s office tasked with investigating allegations of abuse of power can continue its work freely in order to strengthen the public’s confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.

I would like to thank European Commissioner Hahn and his team, as well as my special envoy, Ambssador Johannes Haindl, whose mediation efforts helped to bring about the successful outcome in the inter-party talks.