EU Offers to Mediate in Macedonia's Wiretaps Row

The European Union is ready to arbitrate in the worsening dispute in Macedonia over claims of mass eavesdropping by the government, the EU's foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, and Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, said in Brussels on Wednesday.

"In these particular conditions, even more, it [help] is obviously needed", Mogherini said, adding that "Together with the Commissioner Hahn with whom our work in the Balkans is very much coordinated... for sure it [Macedonia] will stay on the agenda".

Asked about the possible escalation of instability in Macedonia, Mogherini warned in a sombre tone: "I am afraid that the question is not if there is going to be instability."

Hahn meanwhile said Brussels had showed "readiness to arbitrate between the different parties" and he believed Macedonia's main political players would accept this support.

"We have offered our assistance to resolve the current crisis. I think both parties have to move. They have to respect rule of laws. They have to respect independence of the judiciary, freedom of media and they should look for having similar, or the same, political standards in terms of parliamentary work as is the case in other countries," Hahn said.

"We will see what will be the next step. But, in order to keep this European perspective, it is indeed necessary to resolve problems in the country and to come back to adequate international European standards," the Commissioner added.

The latest political conflict erupted on February 9 when the opposition Social Democrat leader, Zoran Zaev, alleged that the government had wiretapped over 20,000 people in the country of 2 million.

Zaev said the eavesdropping had been orchestrated by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski...