At the start of the meeting of European foreign ministers, outgoing Commissioner Johannes Hahn called on them to approve the opening of accession talks with Macedonia as soon as possible.
Hahn said that rewarding Macedonia for the name change would serve as impetus for Serbia to accept concessions with regard to Kosovo.

I can just repeat that “North Macedonia” deserves green light without delay as they have done everything. It is an important signal also for the entire region that a kind of investment in finding a political compromise is rewarded. It will serve as incentive also to solve the Serbia – Kosovo conflict, Hahn said.

Hahn would not be drawn into confirming Zaev’s statement that Macedonia will begin EU accession talks in September, adding that it is not a decision for him to make.

It is probably something I would have to accept because it is not my decision. My proposal was always whenever a country delivers we should also deliver, the outgoing Commissioner said, before calling on countries that oppose enlargement, like France and the Netherlands, to bear the strategic picture of the region in mind.