Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has its first official meeting with EC President Jose Manuel Barroso on Wednesday afternoon.  European diplomats believe this meeting will be an attempt on the part of the EU to assume a more serious role in seeking out a resolution to the name issue between Macedonia and Greece.

Correspondents from Brussels say Barroso expects Gruevski to give him more detailed information as to whether there is progress in the name talks, which will be enough for Greece not to veto setting Macedonia a date for starting accession talks with the EU.

The European Union believes that the direct meetings between Papandreou and Greuvski were beneficial and contributed to warming up the atmosphere between the two countries. However, following the latest statements from both parties, it is evident that the meetings were only a formality and that Macedonia will not be set a date for starting talks.

Macedonian media speculate that European leaders are now thinking how to prepare the exact formulation regarding Macedonia, avoiding the words “blockade” or “veto”.

Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki believes that if Macedonia is not put on the agenda of the meeting of the EU Council of Ministers, the credibility of the EU, acting upon recommendations from the EC, will be tainted.