Macedonia is ready to start the Union's accession negotiations and there is still a possibility for settling the name row ahead of the EU Summit in December, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said on Wednesday.

Resolving of the name problem would add to Macedonia's chances to get a date, Radio Deutsche Welle-Macedonian language programme quoted Rehn's address before the the Joint Parliamentary Committee EU-Macedonia in Strasbourg.

The EU Enlargement Commissioner noted Macedonia's progress towards the membership, pointing out that the country is capable to start the negotiations with the Union.

Rehn called on MEPs to encorage their governments to make a brave decision on Macedonia in line with the EU strategic interests, which also includes the enlargement process.

Earlier, Committee Chairman Jorgo Chatzimarkakis told MEPs that they should discuss on country's progress not its name. There is new momentum in Greece-Macedonia relations, he said, pointing out that expectations from upcoming meeting of PMs George Papandreou and Nikola Gruevski should not be too high. However, this meeting should be encouraged, he added.