Asked whether there were any signs that Macedonia could give up its European integration bid, Alexandra Cas Granje, Director for Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey, and Iceland at the EC’s Directorate General for Enlargement, said at the press conference held in Skopje Tuesday together with Fatmir Besimi, Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, that this was not likely although it was quite certain that the country was not going to be set a date for opening accession talks in December.  

“You know the recommendation of the European Commission. Our position is clear. We’ll see what the European Council decides but there is no danger for the recommendation to be retracted in a foreseeable future,” she said, adding that the dilemma should in fact be resolved by Mr. Besimi.

Deputy Prime Minister Besimi said on his part there was no dilemma that reforms were being carried out for the good of the Macedonian citizens and that Macedonia’s commitment to EU membership remained strong regardless of whether the member states gave a green light in December to the recommendation for negotiations.