(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, OCT 19 - As in Skopje a tough parliamentary debate has been going on since Monday for the approval of the agreement on the name with Greece, the EPP Group President Joseph Daul, called on Macedonian opposition to take "crucial decisions defining for future generations". "Opposition has a big responsibility for the country's EU-NATO path," Daul wrote on his Twitter account. The approval of the deal is a necessary condition set out by the international community for the Euro-Atlantic integration of Skopje.

PPE MEPs, David McAllister, and Eduard Kukan, also made an appeal. Macedonian deputies "have a key responsibility in steering the political direction of the country," they wrote in a joint statement, urging Macedonian politicians - as debate stall - to "assume their responsibilities" and seize "this unique opportunity to build constructively the future Euro-Atlantic "of Skopje.

Macedonia's premier Zoran Zaev needs 80 votes out of the total 120 in Parliament to approve the agreement, but he has only counted on 71 so far.(ANSA).