Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski delivered late Monday an address at the European office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation before EU officials, ambassadors, diplomats and journalists.

"A fortnight prior to the European Council, I would like to refer to the current state of EU-Macedonia relations. Four years ago, the European Commission said Macedonia was prepared to start accession talks. Up to this day, the Council ignores this recommendation. While Macedonia is faced with obstructions, EU is changing. Its boundaries expand in the constant search for solutions to the financial and economic crisis", said Gruevski.

He stressed that European integration is Macedonia's main national priority and the country's strategic goal.

"We are committed to the EU agenda. We are constantly listening to the argument that Macedonia cannot start accession talks because the EU wants to have a clean case and maintain peace in the home. The Union should not wait, since the opening of the talks will be the catalyst for the name issue settlement", added PM Gruevski.

According to him, cooperation and compromise are EU's goals, while an agreement could be reached through constructive dialogue with Greece.

"The International Court of Justice ruled that Greece's block to Macedonia's NATO accession was illegal, violating the 1995 Interim Treaty. This ruling clearly justifies our position and the right to use the country's constitutional name, and if we want to join EU and NATO, to do so under the interim reference, which cannot be blocked by our southern neighbor. Greece has not acted in line with the Hague ruling, so we wonder about the role of international law", said Gruevski.

He emphasized that the High-Level Accession Dialogue was established in 2012, whereas the country resumed with reforms in judiciary, public administration, media, fight against corruption and improvement of the investment environment.

"The start of the EU accession talks will only provide an incentive to this process", added Gruevski.

He referred to the fifth consecutive recommendation by the European Commission, saying the final decision lied in the hands of the member-states.

"The ignoring of the key European principle 'rule of law' by the oldest EU member-state of the Balkans puts Greece and Macedonia, but also the entire region, in an uncomfortable position. How can we be more effective in reforms and broaden the area of stability and prosperity if our regional benchmark ignores to enforce the ICJ rulings, which jurisdiction we all abide to", asked PM Gruevski.

He emphasized that Macedonia wanted a prosperous, democratic and well-managed Greece, which would generate positive energy over the region.

"We are currently faced with the risk of violating the trust of Macedonian citizens in a credible European future. In order to prevent this risk, we must be sure that the EU treats the country in a fair and coherent manner. We need a clear vision from here, towards timely and full completion of the process. Delay is not the best option in the decision-making process", said Gruevski.

Regarding European values, the PM said one should not forget that the essence of the European Union is not blockades, but peace, development and prosperity.

"We should remind ourselves that many EU member-states had faced economic and political turmoil prior to joining the Union, but were not left out. On the contrary, the EU offered support to these countries in the consolidation process. Macedonia needs Europe in order to achieve long-term stability, since integration has the effect of predictability. At the same time, as pretentious as it may sound, Europe needs Macedonia not only because this would strengthen EU's credibility, but also because Macedonia can offer its cultural-historic heritage towards enrichment of the European legacy. Macedonia is Europe", underlined PM Gruevski.