SKOPJE, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Zoran Zaev, the head of Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) has called on the European Union to allow Macedonia to open the EU accession talks, at least in a technical manner, local media reported Thursday.
Zaev, who was mandated last week by President Gjorge Ivanov to form a new government here, attended Wednesday a dinner organized by European diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini for regional Prime Ministers in Brussels.
As Macedonia's PM-designate, Zaev told media after the meeting that he expected the EU to start the accession talks mainly with the chapters 23 and 24 which cover the judiciary, rule of law and human rights.
According to him, such move would be a significant help for Macedonia to push forward its EU integration agenda.
On the other hand, SDSM leader Zoran Zaev said that he also expected to propose a new government by the end of this week and to have the Parliament vote on it early next week, media reported.
We will try to submit a proposal to the Parliament by the end of this week. The people expect results, improvements, reforms. According to the rules of the Parliament, the debate can last for 48 hours and that means that we should have a new Government at the beginning of next week, media here cited Zaev as saying Wednesday night.
According to him, the talks have advanced with the two ethnic Albanian parties: DUI and AA parties, while he is still discussing with head of BESA party, who also offered the signatures of its five members of Parliament to support Zaev claim for a mandate.
Meanwhile, the EU's Mogherini encouraged the Prime Ministers of six Balkan countries to accelerate the necessary work in order to meet their citizens' expectations and move closer to their European Union future, a press release from Mogherini's office informed.
