Brussels: Prespa Agreement enjoys full support of the EU

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will brief EU member states on Monday (Oct. 15) on the situation in Macedonia and the outcome of the consultative referendum held on Sept. 30.

Besides Macedonia, Mogherini will also inform about the outcome of the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mogherini’s message is that the EU still backs the agreement reached between Macedonia and Greece over the name dispute, senior diplomatic sources in the Council of the European Union said.

Macedonia as an EU candidate country is usually discussed in the General Affairs Council. Although the situation is not dramatized, the placing of the Macedonian case on the ministers’ table of the Foreign Affairs Council, as well as the briefing for Macedonia in the EU Political and Security Committee held in the past days, is a source of concern among certain diplomats in Brussels who are monitoring the situation in Macedonia.

Macedonia is not formally on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council, EU Spokesperson explains, Mogherini will only brief on the situation, sources of the Council of the European Union say.

“The EU is fully behind the Prespa Agreement, sources of the Council said, adding that Brussels is in constant contact with all the actors involved in the process in Macedonia.

Senior diplomatic source of the Council of the European Union added that it does not want to use word “pressure” when it comes to these contacts.

A senior diplomatic source in the MIA Council adds that he does not want to use the word “pressure” when it comes to these contacts.

“It would not be appropriate for an external actor to pressure political or other actors and, certainly, not the voters. We have noted that we welcome the agreement reached between Greece and Macedonia and respect the democratic processes in the country,” diplomat said.