The ministers of foreign affairs of the EU member states are going to adopt Tuesday at the meeting of the General Affairs Committee (GAC) the conclusion on the Republic of Macedonia to be passed at the Summit of the European Council on Thursday and Friday by the heads of state and government of the EU member states.

MIA’s Brussels-based correspondent reports that what is known for sure is that the foreign ministers are going to refuse the recommendation of the European Council for setting Macedonia a date for opening membership negotiations for the fifth time. In the latest draft conclusions, agreed at the level of ambassadors to the EU at the so-called COREPER group, it is recommended that “the European Council should revisit the recommendation for opening talks with Macedonia at its next summit in June 2014.”

The draft conclusion on Macedonia has four paragraphs, the last one of which says: “The Council strongly agrees with the assessment of the European Commission that the political criteria are still being met and takes note of the recommendation of the Commission for opening accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. With the aim of passing a decision for opening negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Council is going to revisit the issue in 2014 based on the updates from the Commission regarding the further implementation of the reforms in regard to the High Level Accession Dialogue (HLAD), including the implementation of the 1 March political deal, and the crucial steps in promoting good neighborly relations and reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue.”