The Dutch PM Mike Rutte said at a press conference after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is more concerned about approving a date for EU membership negotiations for Albania rather than for Macedonia. “We see greater progress in North Macedonia rather than in Albania. While we are deeply concerned with the amount of progress in Albania, the progress in North Macedonia is more than certain and we need to discuss the matter further,” Rutte said. News Agency Europe reported after the Meeting of EU member-states on level of ambassadors that several member-states are still with reserved positions when it comes to the start of the membership talks with Macedonia. Besides Netherlands, Denmark and France are also yet to specify their position concerning the start of membership talks with Macedonia. On the other hand, PM Zoran Zaev is rather optimistic that EU will determine a date for start of the membership negotiations with Macedonia this October.