- European MP Johannes Svoboda said in his interview for the Macedonian Television it was time for Macedonia to begin accession talks with the EU. He believes that in the course of the talks there will be plenty of time to solve the name issue with Greece and explained that the EU was in a final stage of talks with Croatia and it was therefore necessary to open talks with the next country, Macedonia. Svoboda believes Greece should appreciate the solidarity of the EU in view of its financial crisis and in return should give Macedonia a chance to start talks. “The European solidarity should not be a one-way street. Following the decision of the EU countries to help, Greece should also help the integration process of the Balkans.”