Luxembourg: Macedonia Name Deal by March?

“I hope that a name solution will be found during the Spanish EU Presidency,” Asselborn added after his meeting with his Macedonian counterpart, Antonio Milososki.

A solution to the 18 year long spat would unlock Macedonia’s EU and NATO accession bids, which have been stalled by Greek opposition. Asselborn added that this would also boost enthusiasm in the country for passing necessary reforms.

Milososki said that Macedonia would follow the positive report issued by the European Commission last autumn and would continue passing reforms up until the start of negotiations, which "will go hand in hand with the EU's credibility and the idea of a united Europe".

Asselborn also met Macedonian President Georgi Ivanov.

A name settlement is possible if the two countries show readiness to tackle the issue, the cabinet of the Macedonian president announced following the meeting.

In December the EU Council postponed the discussion on granting Macedonia a start date for its EU accession talks for six months, thus effectively giving additional time for a compromise to be found between Athens and Skopje.

Athens insists that Skopje’s official name, Republic of Macedonia, implies territorial claims against its own northern province, which is also called Macedonia.

For its part, Skopje argues that by changing its name it might risk losing its identity and dignity.

The UN mediator in the talks is set to visit both countries at the end of the month to launch a fresh round of negotiations.