The S&D Group welcomes the agreement reached today by the Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev on the long lasting name issue. We expect that this will clear the way for the opening of accession talks with the Republic of North Macedonia at the 28-29 June EU summit and enable the relations between both neighbours to thrive.

 

 

"Today's success is a proof that progressives political forces are able to solve long-standing disagreements and make difficult compromises that nationalist conservative forces had not been able to do in more than 25 years. I hereby congratulate Prime Ministers Zaev and Tsipras for this historic agreement, as well as the people of North Macedonia for reaching the doors to the European Union and NATO memberships.

 

"I would also like to urge all political forces in both countries to seize the opportunity and prove that the future of their country and good neighbourly relations are more important than short-term gains in polls. I also invite the European People's Party to use its leverage towards its sister parties in both countries. The S&D Group also calls on the member states to now prove that those who make difficult decisions and compromises are rewarded and invite Skopje to start the accession negotiations with the European Union at the 28-29 June EU summit."