This evening President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, met the President of the European Parliament, David Maria Sassoli. 

At the meeting, accompanied by Deputy President of the Government in charge of European Affairs, Bujar Osmani and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Dimitrov, Prime Minister Zaev expressed his gratitude to EP President Sassoli for the significant support provided by the Parliament and by the MEPs who accepted, with majority, the recommendation of the European Commission, for North Macedonia to unconditionally start negotiations for EU membership. 

Prime Minister Zaev underlined that he is still optimist that tomorrow the Summit of Heads of States and Governments of the EU member states will adopt the decision for the start of negotiations.

Any result other than start of negotiations for North Macedonia, as recognition for the reforms done and for the serious political decisions made by the country, such as fulfilling recommendations issued by the EU, will stimulate the regressive forces in the country and will be a discouraging signal for other countries in the region with regard to their Euro-integration processes, said, among others, Prime Minister Zaev on his meeting with EP President, Sassoli.  

At this meeting, Sassoli confirmed the already consensual approval of the MEPs for negotiations with North Macedonia and reaffirmed that the country is a successful story for the European Union, especially due to the resolution of the issues with Greece and Bulgaria. 

EP President Sassoli said that he will use these messages tomorrow to address the European Council and will demand that the promise for positive decision on the start of negotiations for North Macedonia with the European Union be fulfilled.