EU official urges FYROM leaders to focus on reforms

A European Union official is urging leaders in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to focus on reforms necessary for the country to join the bloc, after Greece ratified a deal ending a nearly three-decade long dispute over use of the name "Macedonia."

Director-General for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Christian Danielsson said Tuesday that FYROM must deliver results in reforming its judiciary and public administration and fight corruption if EU accession talks are to start this year.

FYROM has been granted EU candidate status since 2005, but a dispute over its name with Greece and slow progress in reforms has kept it out of the Union.

Under a deal with Greece, the country will now be renamed North Macedonia. The agreement comes into effect once Greece signs its northern neighbor's NATO accession protocol. [AP]