Zaev meeting Sassoli at European Parliament: We are in Brussels to send a message for urgent de-blocking of the European path; negotiations on Macedonian identity are not an option

The President of the Government, Zaev, together with the Deputy President of the Government in charge of European Affairs, Dimitrov, the Foreign Minister Osmani and the Head of Mission of North Macedonia to EU, Rusi-Popovska, met the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, in Brussels.

At the meeting with Sassoli, Prime Minister Zaev underlined that his visit to Brussels during the same time when the Foreign Ministers of EU member-states are debating the strategic approach of the Union towards the WB countries, serves to convey the message that the Macedonians and citizens of North Macedonia will not negotiate their own identity and will not allow this topic to be on the debate table in the name of start of negotiations with EU. 

During the meeting Prime Minister Zaev extended his appreciation to the European Parliament for the support that they have been continuously providing to North Macedonia and expressed that we expect this support to be even greater in the forthcoming period on order to enable the organization of the first inter-governmental conference between North Macedonia and the EU, as a start of the negotiation process of the country for EU membership. 

EP President Sassoli and PM Zaev agreed that North Macedonia and its citizens enjoy a great support on the EP and he is convinced that this will continue in future and will encourage the institutions of EU to approve the first inter-governmental conference.