Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski held talks on Thursday with the European Parliament's rapporteur for Macedonia, Richard Howitt.

The interlocutors discussed Macedonia's EU integration process, the government said in a press release. They voiced satisfaction with the positive assessments noted in the latest report on Macedonia's progress prepared by the European Commission acknowledging the results produced by the government's reforms.

PM Gruevski said that the government and its members were strongly committed to implementing reforms as part of the High Level Accession Dialogue adding that progress had been made in the implementation of the governmental action plan on fulfilling European standards. The Premier thanked for the dedication and personal engagement by MEP Howitt in backing the realisation of Macedonia's strategic goals while extending gratitude for the role of the European Parliament and the contribution to promoting state and national interests.

PM Gruevski underscored Macedonia's commitment to advancing good neighbourly relations and to overcoming the challenges standing of the road to the EU.

MEP Howitt pledged that the European Parliament would continue providing support to the implementation of Macedonia's European agenda. He said he supported the reforms implemented in a bid to improve the situation in all social spheres.

At the meeting, Gruevski pointed out the initiatives taken so far to settle the current political impasse aimed at renewing the dialogue within the institutions.