The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the report on Macedonia - and the message is the same as in previous years, only wrapped in post-diplomatic language: the reforms are not enough, corruption is still widespread, and constitutional changes remain the key to the first negotiating cluster.

The report, drafted by rapporteur Thomas Waitz, passed with 43 votes in favour, 17 against and 13 abstentions. MEPs warn that progress, especially in the rule of law, judicial reforms and the fight against corruption, remains insufficient, while deep political polarization stalls key reforms and appointments.

One sentence from the report hits the sore spot: corruption remains widespread across many sectors, with a significant gap between investigations launched and final convictions for high-level corruption. Put differently - a lot gets investigated, little gets convicted. Sound familiar?

Constitutional changes were again highlighted as the condition for opening the first cluster. MEPs appeal to all political parties to step back from inflammatory rhetoric and work together on the European path. Easy to write in a report; on the ground, that very rhetoric is the fuel of domestic politics.

Two amendments from Bulgarian MEPs were also adopted, demanding progress on the third intergovernmental commission and results on historical and educational questions - a reminder that the road to the EU for Macedonia is never just technical, but always bilateral too. Rapporteur Waitz said the country's future is in the EU. The future - maybe. But the question Brussels stubbornly won't answer is: until when?