Austrian FM: Macedonia Start Date Unlikely

“I really hope that soon we will be able to reach a decision regarding the launch of talks with Macedonia,” Spindelegger said after meeting with his visiting Macedonian counterpart Antonio Milososki.

“Our next meeting is this Monday in Luxembourg and I believe that we'll do our best and even have a talk with Greece. However, we have to be realistic; I think that such a decision won't be reached.”

Milososki thanked his host for Austria's support for the Macedonia’s EU integration, adding that Skopje is doing its utmost to reach a deal in the name row with Greece.

“I hope that we'll see a solution, of course it will be better if it's sooner rather than later. At least both sides are serious in finding a solution,” Milososki said.

Athens and Skopje are locked in an 18 year long dispute over the use of the name Macedonia. Athens insists that Skopje’s official name, Republic of Macedonia, implies territorial claims against its own northern territory, also called Macedonia.

The spat escalated in 2008 when Greece blocked Macedonia’s NATO entry over the unresolved issue. In the autumn of 2009 the European Commission recommended issuing a start date for Macedonia’s EU accession talks but this move was also blocked by Greece.
 
EU countries had hoped that they would be able to issue a start date at the June European Council summit, but this is largely dependent on a breakthrough in the bilateral name row.

Despite the efforts of the UN name mediator, Matthew Nimetz, and encouragement from top EU and US officials, the two sides have not been able to find a compromise.