The name issue is a non-productive obstacle and its swift settlement may contribute to improving the climate in the entire region, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki said Friday in Brussels after meeting his Greek counterpart Stavros Dimas.

The meeting addressed the regional cooperation, which is in Greece's focus at the moment considering the ongoing pre-election campaign in the country, Poposki said.

"However, at these meetings we affirm our position and hope for swift resolution of the name issue, which sets a non-productive blockade, and I believe that any step forward to that effect may improve the climate in the entire region," Poposki said.

Today, Poposki attended a ceremony honoring Macedonia's accession to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and had a meeting with Kristalina Georgieva - European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

Joining the EU Civil Protection Mechanism connects Macedonia to a Europe-wide disaster management network and gives it access to a pool of resources for dealing with a wide spectrum of disasters. Candidate countries can enjoy the benefits of full participation in the Mechanism even before joining the EU.

Poposki also held talks with Robert Cooper - Counsellor in the European External Action Service (EEAS) and facilitator of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, and the FMs of Cyprus and Spain.