He urged all parties involved, including the new government of North Macedonia, to respect the Prespa Agreement and work for the European perspective of each country, but also to help the neighboring countries, said Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn.

Asked about this in a meeting he had with the media in Brussels, including APE-MBE, Johannes Hahn replied:Regarding the case of North Macedonia, it worries me. We can only urge all sides, including especially the new government of North Macedonia, to stick to the Prespa agreement and work for the European perspective of each country, but also to help neighboring countries. I believe that this obligation for the neighboring countries in particular, to help them with consistent efforts, will support the entire region. Because I really believe that if we take a sustainable step forward, in the case of North Macedonia, it will have an impact on the whole region, for example on the talks between Serbia and Kosovo, which need to be reactivated with the new Commission.”

Notably, Johannes Hahn, in the Juncker Commission (2014-2019) was Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood.