Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki held Monday a working breakfast with ambassadors of EU member-states to the Republic of Macedonia, reaffirming arguments for sooner opening of accession negotiations while underlining the common benefits of the process for Macedonia and the Union, including Greece.

FM Poposki asked the ambassadors, i.e. the member-states they represent, for sooner adoption of the deserving decision for start of the accession negotiations by the EU Council, in the course of the Danish Presidency, and in line with the maintained recommendations by the European Commission and the European Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

Poposki also referred to the March 15 launch of the high-level dialogue between the Macedonian Government and the European Commission.

"We expect the dialogue to raise the visibility of Macedonia's EU accession perspective, contributing to acceleration of the country's progress", he stressed.

The pre-accession dialogue will focus on five thematic areas - rule of law, public administration reforms, freedom of expression and media, reforms in the electoral process, and economic criteria towards a functional market economy. The dialogue will develop on two levels - political, co-chaired by PM Nikola Gruevski and Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, and expert.

Referring to regional developments, Minister Poposki emphasized the importance of the EU membership perspective, as well as the necessity of its visibility and credibility.

"It is of essential significance to observe the principle of recognition in line with merits, whereas aspirant countries which have delivered results in meeting the Copenhagen criteria should be given a chance for progress on the road towards EU membership", he added.

Macedonia will continue to provide its proactive and constructive contribution towards enhancement of regional cooperation, in the spirit of good neighborly relations and friendship, reads the MoFA press release.