Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski briefed Monday in Brussels the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, about Macedonia's progress on its road to the European Union ahead of the Union's Summit, scheduled for this month.

Reports from the meeting say that Rompuy was interested in Macedonia's activities towards the EU-integration, pointing out that the launch of accession talks requires the consent of all EU members. It means that EU holds to its position about the need of settling the imposed name row with Greece for Macedonia to get what it deserves – start of the EU accession talks - also recommended by the European Commission for the last five years, MIA reports from Brussels.

The meeting with the European Council President is realised on our demand, as we wished to present our arguments regarding Macedonia's future progress, Gruevski said.

"We have talked about the ongoing reforms and accomplishments, as well the problems we have been facing. I've focused on the numerous reforms in the sphere of economy, judiciary and public administration," he said.

Gruevski said that at the meeting with Rompuy he referred to all more significant developments related to Macedonia in order to depict the real picture of what has been happening in the country.
"I've also sought further obligation in regard to our future expectations, hoping a way to be found soon for surpassing the only obstacle to our next step - opening of the EU accession talks," Gruevski said.

Today, Gruevski is also scheduled to have a working lunch with the Ambassadors of EU member states and deliver a speech at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

Furthermore, Gruevski will visit the Leuven University Hospital, where possibilities for cooperation, namely training of Macedonian medical staff in this European educational center, are to be reviewed.