Prime Minister Zoran Zaev will personally try to placate French President Emmanuel Macron tomorrow and plead that he allows Macedonia to open European Union accession talks during the summit in Berlin.

Despite the imposed name change, France, the Netherlands and Denmark oppose the opening of EU accession talks for Macedonia. The issues include general skepticism toward further EU enlargement, desire to integrate stronger the existing members, Macedonia’s numerous issues in the way rule of law is practiced, and the fact that it is in a group with Albania.

Zaev staked everything on EU accession – last year he already celebrated what he said is assured opening of accession talks this June – and failure to deliver, especially after he already forced the country to pay such a huge price by compromising on its national issues, can sink his Government. Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov was already on a mission in the Netherlands, and Zaev spoke with Merkel, asking her to help out with Macron.