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Macedonian PM calls on EU to play greater role in the Balkans

Xinhua, May 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski called on Thursday European Union (EU) to play a greater role in the Balkan region, saying that integration is the way for Balkan region's economic development.

Gruevski made the remarks at the Vienna regional economic forum in Tirana, which is aimed at promoting regional economic development and investment in an effort to speed the integration of the countries in the region into the European Union.

Gruevski said that EU integration would give a fresh impetus to the reform efforts towards economic development by Balkan countries.

"In Macedonia, which is a multiethnic country, European and Euro-Atlantic integration is important, because it is a factor of unification. Therefore Macedonia is focused on reforms in all fields," Gruevski said.

The Macedonian government head also dwelled on the relations with Greece, saying it is important to solve the remaining open issues between the two countries, mainly the issue of the official name in order to move forward with the EU integration process.

Greece is opposed to the use of the name Macedonia by its northern neighbor, saying that it implies territorial claims to Greece's northern province of the same name. Endit