Commissioner Hahn once Again Underlines Name Deal’s Importance to Region

In an interview with Austrian newspaper standard, the EU’s Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, says that the name deal between Skopje and Athens is of importance to the whole region. According to him, the EU should deliver on the made promises. Hahn expects Macedonia to receive a green light for a start of the accession negotiations, which, in his view, can be reflected also at the NATO Summit. However, the Commissioner said the autumn referendum shouldn’t be mixed with other elections. “A referendum should be held in September or October and I have offered to promote the solution on the spot. I have certain credibility in Macedonia and I am ready to use it. However, it’s important for the referendum not to be mixed with other elections. Otherwise, it can be dragged into a party-political battle,” Hahn underlines.