Poposki-Hahn: EC wishes for successful election to support onset of Macedonia's EU accession talks

Macedonia's Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki and Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, discussed late Monday in Brussels on implementing the priority reforms and organizing successful elections in the country next April.

Hahn expressed satisfaction with the developments in Macedonia, saying that the European Commission and EU members would strongly support the launch of Macedonia's accession talks if the country implement the reform priorities and organize successful elections.

"We have talked about all obstacles the country has managed to overcome within the political dialogue, as well as about the priority reforms in Macedonia. I believe our achievements thus far have taken many by surprise and that we will make the task easier for the European Commission, which this year also recommended that it is time for (Macedonia) to start the accession talks".

Addressing the migrant crisis, Poposki and Hahn agreed on the improved communication between Macedonia and its neighbors.

"The engagement of Frontex on the other side of the Macedonian southern border may improve the situation. We are also encouraged by the support of many EU members for channeling the migrants to checkpoints for registration, where their humane transit could be enabled along the European security corridor to the final destination in the EU," Poposki said.