Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve bilateral relations between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; and if he will make a statement.

Bilateral political relations between Greece and Macedonia continue to be overshadowed by inconclusive UN talks on the name issue. The UK is not directly involved in this process but we urge both sides to engage constructively to find a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible. Ahead of the General Affairs Council in December, the UK’s position remains that we do not believe the name issue should be a block to beginning discussions with Macedonia over the negotiating framework for EU accession talks.