EU Expects Macedonia's Political Leaders to Take Part in Wednesday's Talks in Brussels

The European Commission has said it is expecting the leaders of Macedonia's largest political parties to take part in Wednesday's meeting in Brussels with Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

"We believe that a solution to the political crisis in the country is of paramount importance? And it is of paramount importance that they [the political leaders] participate," EU foreign policy spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, said at a press conference in Brussels on Monday.

Her statement followed comments by opposition Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev who said last week he would not take part in the talks.

Meeting in Skopje on 2 June, Macedonian political leaders agreed that early parliamentary elections should be held by the end of April next year to lead the country out of the political crisis. Emerging from that meeting, Johannes Hahn said a new gathering in the same format will be held in Brussels the following week to discuss details of the agreement.

"? there is a number of issues that still needs to be discussed and we expect that this will happen this Wednesday", Kocijancic said.