Macedonia EU integration in 'new phase': Commissioner

(SKOPJE) - The EU commissioner for enlargement Stefan Fuele said on Thursday Macedonia had taken a new step on the road to Europe which will "inevitably" lead to the opening of accession talks.

"Today we have opened a new phase in Macedonia's European journey... We have built the bridge which would lead us inevitably to the accession negotiations," he said.

Representatives from the EU and the Balkans country started talks Thursday on judicial reforms, human rights, immigration and police cooperation, all key points that must be agreed upon it can join the 27-nation bloc.

Fuele made no comment on a flare-up of inter-ethnic violence between Macedonians and ethnic Albanians that has left 14 people injured since last week.

Macedonia's EU bid remains blocked by Greece which is embroiled in a long-running name row with its southern neighbour, but Fuele said the dispute was not discussed Thursday.

"We were talking about reforms, we were not talking about the name issue," Fuele said at a joint press conference with Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

He said he would return to Macedonia in May and December.