Zoran Zaev, the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel to support Skopje in its bid to begin the negotiations on the European Union membership in June, the Beta news agency reported on Thursday.

In a phone conversation on Wednesday, Zaev told Merkel that “it is time for the EU Council to take a positive decision concerning the opening of negotiations. Such a decision will give additional encouragement to the continuation of reforms in North Macedonia.”

The North Macedonian Government quoted Merkel as welcoming the positive effects in implementing the Prespa deal (agreed on last June between Zaev and his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras on a new name for the former Yugoslav republic which opened doors for Skopje Euro-Atlantic integrations), and an open dialogue with the opposition which would bring positive results for the country.

“The positive developments in relations between Greece and North Macedonia is a good example for the Western Balkans region and Europe as a whole,” Merkel said, according to the North Macedonian Government’s statement.