I believe that the new composition of the European Parliament and the new President of the European Commission will also maintain the continuity in support to the EU enlargement process of the countries from the region and the Republic of Macedonia.

This was stated late Thursday by the VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski addressing the 22nd Congress of the European People's Party (EPP) in Dublin, Ireland. Nearly 2.000 participants, over 800 delegates and 12 EU heads of government attended the event.

Macedonian Government on this plan carries out broad political and economic reforms directed towards fulfilling the requirements for EU membership, improvement of the living standards and quality of life of the Macedonian citizens as well as towards strengthening the capacities of the institutions in the Republic of Macedonia, Gruevski said.

He hoped that five consecutive EC recommendations for start of accession talks with Macedonia based on achieved results in reforms and level of Copenhagen criteria fulfillment will be materialized with adequate decision of the European Council emphasizing that the support of the European People’s Party aimed at realization of this goal is of essential importance for the Republic of Macedonia.

Gruevski also referred to the forthcoming elections of the European Parliament which is a main topic at the EPP Congress. He said that the decision for election will have influence on the future of the European Union and the way of its administering. He expressed belief that the EPP candidate for the President of the European Commission will the true political figure which will represent the interests of the European citizens and will fully commit political and personal integrity in strengthening the European projects and facing with the current challenges.

EPP President Joseph Daul, who was elected President by the EPP Political Assembly following the passing of late President Wilfried Martens last autumn, was confirmed as President by a vote of the Congress in accordance with the EPP statutes. The Congress also adopted the EPP Action Programme 2014-2019.

The 2014 Elections Congress will continue today and will conclude with a vote by over 800 Congress delegates to elect the EPP candidate for President of the European Commission.

The delegation, led by PM Gruevski, also includes high-ranking VMRO-DPMNE officials, including Martin Protogjer, Vlatko Gjorcev and Nikola Poposki.

Among those attending are German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the current President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy.

The EPP is the largest political party at European level with 12 EU heads of government and 13 members of the European Commission.