Deputy Prime Minister Bujar Osmani, who is in charge of the European integration of Macedonia, said that France and the Netherlands have still not confirmed they will support the opening of accession talks in October.

The latest information we have in our talks with the French representatives in Brussels, which are held in different levels, are that France has not decided yet. We expect that President Macron will make his decision in the coming days, although they are more rational and softer toward the perspective of “North Macedonia”, Osmani said in an interview.

Regarding the Netherlands, Osmani said that this country is mostly suspicious toward the Albanian bid, which were confirmed by the Dutch Parliament, while it can still approve the opening of talks with Macedonia. Macedonia faces being pushed into a group with Albania, which will make its bid more difficult.

What we are hearing now is that the Dutch Government can make its decision without going through the Parliament, which will make it easier in the debate over the coupling or decoupling of the two countries, Osmani said.