Walking Hand in Hand. How the EU Facilitates Democratic Transition of Macedonia or the Fortification of its Illiberal and Authoritarian Regime

Resumen

In the last century the Spanish liberal philosopher, writer and professor Jose Ortega y Gasset speaking on the problems of the Spanish Society uttered the famous phrase: "Si España es el problema, Europa es la solución". This has proved to be a rather correct view of the development of Spain in the last nearly 40 years, and from Europe’s problem it transformed to be part of the solution creators.

The last twenty-five years, since Macedonia’s independence, the country has proved to lack the capacity to independently resolve any major political problem, and has depended onto assistance from the International Community and in particular from the EU. This assistance however genuine and fruitful in the last few years has failed to produce the same results as before and has gradually turned from support for democratic transition to aiding and abiding the authoritarian regime.

On one hand, the EU needs to stay true with its promises to Macedonia and the WB Countries, while remaining consistent with its core values. On the other hand, Spain needs to share some of its success in Europeanization of Society with the same group of countries, in particular with Macedonia that has been for too long a blank spot on the map, thus staying proving one more time how correct Ortega y Gasset was