Hahn: EC intends to give recommendation for launch of Macedonia’s EU accession talks

The European Commission intends to give clear recommendation for launching of Macedonia’s EU accession talks, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn says in a interview for Nova TV.

However a decision on the matter should be made by all EU members, Hahn says.

Referring to the name row, Hahn says the EU has been doing its best to facilitate the Skopje-Athens talks.

‘It is important for the colleagues from Skopje and Athens to be seating together, building confidence and working on solution. The relations between the foreign ministers (of both countries) are good, recently also between the prime ministers, and I am an optimist that they will be able to find lasting, sustainable solution,’ Hahn says.

Referring to EU Strategy for the Western Balkans, presented Tuesday in Strasbourg and Brussels, Hahn says it gives clear European perspective to the countries in the region.

Hahn says the strategy is a kind of a roadmap for the next three years in six different areas for which 57 concrete projects are proposed for the economic development, rule of law, digitalization, etc.

He notifies that the reforms in Macedonia should be accelerated. The EU Commissioner hopes that opposition will also take active part in realizing the national priorities, such as the country’s European perspective.

‘All parties have voiced support for the country’s European perspective and hence I expect a national consensus on the matter,’ Hahn says.