The Priebe report, which the opposition and EU representatives often mention, is an unofficial document prepared by Brussels experts and it is aimed at bettering the situation in several areas. It was prepared by retired official Reinhard Priebe, who observed serious flaws in several areas, such as the judiciary, the surveillance of communications, elections and the state of the media.
The report was published last year, but due to the political crisis, the two postponements of elections and dissolution of Parliament, little was accomplished. The EU says that Macedonia keeping its recommendation for start of negotiations depends on the realization of these recommendations. The recommendation is set to be published in the October progress report on Macedonia.
In the part on elections it states that the State Election Commission should play a central role in overseeing and controlling elections and that every interference in the work of the commission is unacceptable.
Experts claim that the institutions should seriously take into consideration remarks by OSCE and ODIHR, which refer to the whole electoral process, not just the election date.
Most of Priebe's report refers to the media. It is pointed out that media must be freed from all political pressures and threats.
According to the report, the media should distance themselves from the political parties and should not be in the service of politicians and political parties.
"The media play an important role in situations of political crisis. It is of public interest and their job to reveal possible mistakes in the functioning of the state and society. Furthermore, public entities should refrain from discouraging media in order to express/carry out their mandate", the report states.
VMRO-DPMNE President and ex Prime Minister of Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski, pointed out a few days ago that the state institutions are focused on the first upcoming suggestions that should be made in the coming days and weeks in terms of the urgent reform priorities, which are to be in accordance with requests from the EU report, or the Priebe report.
"The institutions are fully focused and working on the first steps aimed at fulfilling these requests in several fields, including: the judiciary, media, administration, security and others. The fulfillment of these requests will be good for Macedonia, as they will fortify the state and institutions", Gruevski said.
He also called on the opposition to take part in the fulfillment of these recommendations, but for now, there is no respones on whether they accept his invitation.