BBC News Online: World: Europe

EU warning to Macedonia

The European Union is expected to warn Macedonia that it risks having aid and bilateral relations frozen, unless it moves quickly to implement fully the peace deal signed in August.

In a draft statement due to be approved later today, EU foreign ministers say the parliament in Skopje must endorse a constitutional amendment improving the rights of the country's ethnic-Albanian minority, and pass an amnesty for rebels who have laid down their arms.

The parliament is expected to approve the amnesty tomorrow.

It is also due to start a debate on the reforms, but Macedonian nationalist parties have been reluctant to give their backing to the changes.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service