For Prime Minister  Nikola Gruevski to participate at the Congress of the European People's Party (EPP) in Bucharest is an opportunity to establish contacts with several presidents of EPP members as well as with key European figures in a bid to lobby for Macedonia's interests.

"This is a good opportunity to hold formal or informal meetings with leaders of parties that are EPP members, prime ministers, members of their delegations, foreign ministers and to lobby in a way and to present our views on certain issues," stated Gruevski who takes part at the EPP Congress together with a party delegation.

The Congress, the VMRO-DPMNE leader added, is an important event for EPP. "I'm accompanied by a large delegation in an effort to make as many contacts as possible and to make many beneficial steps for Macedonia."

Participants at the Congress will discuss the challenges facing Europe as well as ways to intensify cooperation amongst European countries.

The EPP Congress in Bucharest brings together 2,000 members, including 16 heads and premiers of EU states. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the European Commission President José  Manuel Barroso, EPP leader Wilfried Martens and many other are set to speak at the Congress.

The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre right, which currently includes 74 member-parties from 39 countries, the Presidents of the European Commission, European Council, and European Parliament, 17 EU and 6 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commission and the largest Group in the European Parliament.