EU Still Hopeful On Macedonia Name Settlement

“We have one month until the meeting of the European Council on June 17. If there is a chance for progress this month then we can expect a positive decision in June,” Fouere said during a lecture at the FON private university in Skopje.

If a settlement is struck by then, the EU ambassador says the European Council will have the opportunity to grant a positive decision for Macedonia to start accession talks with the EU.

In December Greece prevented the Council from extending a start date for the talks, arguing that the name dispute must first be settled.

“Unfortunately, the contacts and the meetings didn't accelerate the process as we wanted. There is still time and we hope the two sides will make all the efforts needed in order to solve name issue and enable Macedonia to step forward. This is our desire and we will continue working on that,” Fouere said.

The EU ambassador stressed that meanwhile Macedonia must continue working on the required reforms that are part of the EU agenda.

He urged for improvement of the political dialogue, the fight against corruption and establishing legal security for foreign investments as well as reform in the public administration.