Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki in his address at the panel titled "The Balkans and the EU: New Realities" within Global Security Forum 'Globsec' taking place in Bratislava, pointed out that EU membership enjoys huge public support and represents strong cohesive power for the Macedonian multiethnic society but also blocked perspectives have negative influence on trust of the public in the EU institutions.

Poposki in his address also reminded that the Republic of Macedonia is EU candidate country for more than 6 years and received three in a row recommendations from the European Commission and the European Parliament to open EU membership talks. The decision of the Council of the European Union is being postponed several times due to Greece’s opposing regarding the name dispute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

Also Slovak and Albanian Foreign Ministers Miroslav Lajcak and Edmond Hadzinasto respectively addressed the panel discussion. Central topic in the speakers’ addresses was regional cooperation in Western Balkans and the progress of the countries in the region on their road to European and Euro-Atlantic structures. They unanimously concluded that the Western Balkans is a successful story.

Poposki following panel discussion met with his Slovak colleague Miroslav Lajcak and discussed regional issues as elections in Greece and Serbia, Southeast European Cooperation Process whose chairmanship-in-office will be taken over by Macedonia as of June, name dispute with Greece and Euro-Atlantic integration processes. Lajcak emphasised Slovakia’s full support to our efforts for full-fledged membership in the Euro-Atlantic structures, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.