VMRO-DPMNE president Nikola Gruevski held Friday talks with Christian Danielsson, the European Commission's Director General for Enlargement.
The interlocutors discussed current political topics and developments as well as the challenges the country faces, including Macedonia's EU integration bid and the reform agenda in connection to the process, VMRODPMNE's Communications Center said in a press release.
VMRO-DPMNE's top priority, Gruevski said, is to normalize the political situation, reintroduce security amongst the citizens and restore progress and economic prosperity.
"VMRO-DPMNE champions the processes that allow standards in every area to be advanced while any solution deemed crucial for the future of the state should be based on the will of the citizens," Gruevski stressed.
In regards to the elections, Gruevski said the sitting government had a legitimate mandate until 2018.
"VMRO-DPMNE is prepared for elections to be held as soon as possible provided that the opposition demonstrates readiness to run in the ballots and face the citizens," he noted.
In the meantime, he pledged, activities will be carried out so as to increase confidence in and the credibility of the election process. With respect to integration processes, the VMRO-DPMNE leader said EU and NATO membership were of 'strategic interest of the country'.
In terms of the EU integration, Gruevski stated that the coming period would be filled with an intensive agenda to meet the recommendations stemming from the Priebe report and to further pursue reforms aimed at improving the standards in several areas, including the judiciary, security bodies, the media and the fight against corruption.
"It is our strong interest and solutions will be offered through a constructive process in an effort to improve the criteria and work principles in the noted areas," Gruevski concluded.