(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, SEPTEMBER 19 - PES President Sergei Stanishev urged EU leaders to start immediately the pre-accession negotiations with North Macedonia. "While Brexit continues to put membership of the EU into the news for all the wrong reasons, it is time for Europe to focus on the States which are working productively with their neighbours to enhance cooperation and prosperity in Europe. It is time for the EU to agree on a date for the beginning of the negotiations with North Macedonia", Stanishev wrote in a note.

"The immediate start of negotiations must be agreed at the next European Council" of 17-18 October, Stanishev highlighted, stressing that "the strong commitment of the Macedonian government to democracy and the rule of law, membership to NATO and the recent agreements reached with Bulgaria and Greece are all strong evidence that the Western Balkans nation is ready to begin accession to the EU".(ANSA).