Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Poposki met Monday with the European Commission's Director General for Enlargement, Stefano Sannino, who is paying a two-day visit to Macedonia.

Poposki at the meeting underlined the need of maintaining the credibility of the enlargement process considering the fact that Macedonia was not given a date for start of accession talks despite the European Commission (EC) recommendation for three consecutive years. The omission of the adjective "Macedonian" in the EC report has also contributed Macedonia's confidence into European institutions to plummet (according to a recent research by Eurobarometer), MoFA said in a press release.

Moreover, Poposki focused on Macedonia's expectations with the high-level accession dialogue with an emphasis on country's achievements in 2012. He also stressed the need of launching the second stage of implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

Considering the EC progress report for 2012, Macedonia expects the status of "functional market economy" to be recognised as well as the use of the adjective "Macedonian" in line with UN practices.

FM Poposki said that Macedonia would abide by provisions of the EU visa regime. In relation to the judgement of the International Court of Justice, he vowed that principles of international law would be respected and reiterated Macedonia's commitment to settle the name dispute with Greece by being actively involved in the UN-brokered negotiations taking place in New York with mediator Matthew Nimetz.

Director General Sannino pledged that the EC would advocate Macedonia to start the second stage at the Stabilisation and Association Council. He said he had great  expectations with the high-level accession dialogue between Macedonia and EU, which is due to take place between February and April 2012. He urged Macedonia to strengthen its efforts in the rule of law - judiciary, freedom of the press, fight against corruption - and reforms in the public administration.

Sannino stated that Macedonia had met the basic conditions for obtaining a status of "functional market economy", adding that the EC would once again review this issue with the Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), MoFA said.