The European Union is optimistic regarding an opportunity for compromise between Greece and FYRMacedonia on the name row ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers scheduled on Dec. 7, Carl Bildt, the foreign minister of EU's current presidency holder Sweden, stated on Tuesday.

Bildt said he was communicating with prime ministers Nikola Gruevski and George Papandreou and stressed that in his opinion a compromise on the name was close, Deutsche Welle program in Macedonian language reports.

He disagrees with media reports suggesting that Skopje and Athens' positions have never been more distant and urges both parties to settle the issue.

- This is a bilateral issue, but I believe that media falsely report that the situation is bad. This should be settled bilaterally with the services of UN mediator, who is to be supported. I've talked with both Gruevski and Papandreou about the importance of the issue; there's willingness from both sides for a progress. Now there's a good chance and I can only call on Athens and Skopje to make utmost efforts to use it, says Carl Bildt.