Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said that Macedonia is not there yet regarding its requested opening of EU accession talks. During a meeting of the European affairs committee of the Dutch Parliament, Blok said that Macedonia made some positive steps, but it’s not ready yet. He also completely dismissed the request to allow Albania to open accession talks.

As in the German Bundestag earlier today, the representatives were divided. Social-democratic parties in both countries, who have significant influence over the respective Foreign Ministries which they run or ran until recently, ask that accession talks begin. Meanwhile, other parties are much more reserved, in the case of Albania or for both countries. Blok would not make a definitive announcement on the Dutch position ahead of the meeting of the European Council.

Zoran Zaev announced that he may resign if accession talks don’t begin in June. Last year, Zaev promised that if Macedonians accept the name change, accession talks will begin in June 2019.