Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki has sent a letter to his European counterparts, asking for a December date over the start of EU accession negotiations, whereas the name issue to be settled in parallel.

"I have sent a letter to my colleagues, in which I stressed that Macedonia and all EU member-states share the interest of stimulating a European approach. This approach should not be based on rigidity and obstruction, but one of cooperation, with emphasis on those parts where we have common interests", FM Poposki told journalists on Monday.

Asked if this could be achieved in practice, he said it depended on the 27 member-states in the EU Council.