Johannes Hahn

European Commissioner for enlargement, Johannes Hahn, expressed optimism on Tuesday that Greece's name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) could be resolved in the next 15 days.

Athens on Wednesday hit back at the European enlargement commissioner for saying a solution to the "Macedonia" name talks is within reach, noting that the decision was not one for Brussels to make.

The European Commission called on Tuesday for the start of EU accession negotiations with Albania and Macedonia.

"A step forward for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania is a step forward for the entire west Balkans region," said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini.

Turkey is moving rapidly away from the path of European Union membership, the top EU official in charge of negotiations said on Tuesday, as Brussels' delivered its harshest criticism yet of Ankara's shift towards authoritarianism.

Johannes Hahn is expected to arrive in Skopje on Wednesday, just one day after the European Commission publishes its report on the country's progress, while Federica Mogherini will be in Macedonia on Thursday.

According to a press release posted on the EU External Action Service website, the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy will travel to the Western Balkans April-19, and will visit "Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia."

BELGRADE - At the invitation of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will attend a meeting of Western Balkan leaders in Sofia on Thursday.

The meeting will also be attended by EU foreign policy and security chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn,

The European Union remains strongly committed to the European perspective for the countries of the Western Balkans, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on 1st of March after the working meeting in Sofia with the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the leaders of the countries in the region.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met on Monday afternoon with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who is accompanied by EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

The meeting in Belgrade's Vila Mir is also attended by Hahn.

BELGRADE - The recent visits to Serbia by top EU officials is a clear message to the country that the EU is counting on it, says Serbian PM Ana Brnabic.