Le Conseil des ministres a ensuite invité la Commission européenne, le 17 mai 2004, à formuler un avis sur cette candidature, engageant ainsi le processus qui pourrait amener l’ancienne République yougoslave de Macédoine à rejoindre l’UE.
The European Commission was subsequently requested, on 17 May 2004, by the Council of Ministers to prepare an Opinion on the application, thus setting in motion the process which could lead to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia joining the EU.