Leaders of most Balkan countries are in Berlin today for a summit convened by Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The summit includes leaders from all non-EU Balkan countries, as well as those from Slovenia and Croatia. Zoran Zaev’s main goal at the summit will be to appease Macron to approve accession talks for Macedonia. France has been one of the most outspoken opponents of further enlargement of the EU before steps were taken to centralize the existing members.

The fact that Macedonia is seen as part of a group with Albania makes the decision more difficult to reach, even after the imposed name change. Failure to open accession talks will pour cold water on Zaev’s promises that, with the name change rammed through Parliament, Macedonia is now embraced by the EU.

The Kosovo issue is also expected to be raised in Berlin, with Serbia and Kosovo reversing some of the progress they made in normalizing their ties.