Prime Minister Zoran Zaev conceded that Macedonia will not be given a date to open EU accession talks in June, but still held out hope for July, adding that it is “up to Merkel” to decide.

We will probably have more detailed information after the meeting with Chancellor Merkel. I’m convinced that she will at the very least value what was done and that she will give us a precise timeframe for when we can expect to be given a date to open accession talks. I understand that June is no longer a very probably option, but we have chances for July, Zaev said.

The two are supposed to meet on Thursday. As Zaev supporters are openly accusing Merkel of “stabbing him in the back”, Zaev said that the meeting will determine whether he will resign, call for early elections or offer a different politician to form a Government within the current Parliament.