“The implementation of the Prespa Agreement is crucial to Macedonia’s progress towards European Union membership and these things are intertwined and mutually supportive,” stated US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Matthew Palmer during an event in Athens by Delphi Economic Forum. Regarding the EU enlargement process and whether he expects a positive response in the near future, Palmer says he continues to believe that the lack decision last October is a historic mistake. “The good news is that there is an opportunity to fix this mistake in March at the European Council meeting later this month. We would very much like to see a positive decision by the European Council in opening accession negotiations with Macedonia and Albania. We believe that both countries deserve it. The European Commission’s latest report has been very positive and clearly indicates that it is strategically important for the EU to give the green light to Skopje and Tirana. It is important that the EU sends a clear and unambiguous signal to the Western Balkans that the road to EU is open. That there is a prospect of eventual membership for the Western Balkans.