-    We appreciate that the progress in Macedonia has been recognized in the conclusions of the Council of Ministers of the EU yet we are disappointed that no decision has been taken to set Macedonia a date for opening the deserved membership negotiations. It is clear that a chance has been missed to contribute essentially to a more stable and more prosperous Balkans. These are the positions that Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski laid out before the heads of state and government and leaders of political parties – members of the European people’s parties. At the summit held at the Royal Academy in Brussels, the Macedonian prime minister sincerely thanked all member states and institutions of the EU that worked hard to help achieve progress in the EU enlargement. He stressed that he would not disappoint them and that Macedonia would double its effort in carrying out reforms and conducting dialogue. “Our southern neighbor favors the practice of not honoring international law and undertaken responsibilities. This is a challenge to the credibility of the enlargement process of the EU. Our response is a European one. We are going to continue reforms and work even harder to promote peace, trust and stability in Southeast Europe. I trust this is going to be appreciated more than the practice of blocks,” PM Gruevski said.