Spain wants to see Macedonia in the European family and there is an additional reason - the debt crisis facing Europe, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki said Tuesday after meeting with his Spanish counterpart José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil in Madrid.

"Spain remains committed to seeing the Balkans in the European family. This message is important since it comes from the forth largest economy in the eurozone. Despite the fact that Spain is relatively far away from the Balkan Peninsula, it believes that the ongoing crisis has confirmed the need of solidarity, consolidation and the creation of a solidarity zone in Europe, which will also include Balkan countries," Poposki stated.

He mentioned that Spain was a country that had tackled serious difficulties while accessing the EU. "Hence, the country has an understanding about the frustrations facing Macedonia."

Both ministers agreed that the EU enlargement must not be overshadowed by the debt crisis and that it was in everyone's interest to solve it.

"We've come to a conclusion that the EU amid these conditions is paying less attention to the enlargement, but we believe it is extremely important not to allow the enlargement agenda to be overshadowed by this serious crisis. It is in everyone's interest the debt crisis to get a positive outcome. All eyes are focused on elections in Greece. We all want to see some positive developments there - strong signals that we are committed to building bridges and supporting the region to be prosperous and stable. We think that Greece is in a key moment facing a serious challenge in which it can demonstrate strong commitment to meeting European goals - integration and support to its neighbours in the European family," the FM stressed.

Macedonia will keep on building a constructive climate as always, Poposki added.

Interlocutors during their meeting - the first one since 2006 - discussed ways to improve bilateral relations, especially business ties.

Later in the day, FM Poposki is set to deliver a lecture "Macedonia and EU" at the Elcano Royal Institute and to meet the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Spanish Congress of Deputies, Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida.