By Martin Banks - 2nd December 2009
We live in an age of unprecedented opportunity and we are dutibound to split the goodness
Nikola Gruevski
Nikola Gruevski, the Macedonian prime minister, has said his country "dreams" of joining the "beautiful" EU.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, he said he "looks forward to the day" when the Balkan state can accede to the EU club.
His comments come on the day the EU granted visa-free travel for citizens of three Balkan countries - Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
From 19 December, citizens of the three former Yugoslav republics who hold biometric passports will not need visas to enter the borderless Schengen area.
The Schengen zone is made up of 25 European countries - the 27 EU members, minus the UK, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus; plus three non-EU nations - Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.
Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005, but its accession is being held up by a dispute with neighbouring Greece over the country's name.
Gruevski welcomed the visa move, saying he wanted European leaders to set a date for the start of Macedonia's EU accession talks, when they gather at their summit later this month.
He said his country was committed to finding a solution to the long-standing name dispute with Greece and is playing a constructive role in UN-mediated talks.
Gruevski, a former finance minister and PM since August 2006, said the country has made significant progress in implementing EU-required reforms.
"We hope and dream of membership of a grand and beautiful project like the EU," he said.
"This is what two million people aspire to. We are tied to this and one day, soon I hope, we along with other south east European countries will be part of it.
"We live in an age of unprecedented opportunity and we are duty-bound to split the goodness."
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.