It is important that the recommendation is here and we eagerly expect the people's report at the April elections, said Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski at Tuesday's joint press conference with EU Ambassador Aivo Orav, who handed over the 2015 European Commission's Macedonia Progress Report.

"The people will give the best judgment, since they are the ones who cope with life in Macedonia on a daily basis", said PM Gruevski.

He said the country had received the seventh consecutive recommendation for the launch of the EU accession talks, noted by the Government.

"The report includes positive remarks, but also areas of criticism. However, the recommendation means the positive aspects were crucial in the EC assessment. We will work on overcoming the challenges and criticism, but also improve where required", added Gruevski.

He said Macedonia remained committed to implementing the political agreement and the key reforms, in order to provide sufficient arguments for member-states to pass a decision over the start of the accession talks.

"I hope that after meeting the criteria following the 2016 elections, we will not face new obstacles or conditions. The status quo in the context of Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration is bad for the country", underlined Gruevski.

EU Ambassador Orav said the most important thing in the report was the maintenance of the recommendation.

"Yes, this is a conditional recommendation and the EC will review it after the elections, but the course of the events depends on you", said Orav.

He stressed the report urged for full implementation of the June/July agreement, preparation for perfect elections and their administering, as well as complete implementation of the future reform priorities in the fields of freedom of expression, rule of law and administration reforms.

The EU Ambassador said the EC aimed at assisting all candidate-states through the progress report.

"A good friend does not tell me how good I am, but what I do wrong. This is what the EC is doing. Please use the criticism in the best possible way, implement the recommendations and you will see that miracles are possible", emphasized Orav.

Earlier in the day, Ambassador Orav handed over the report to President Gjorge Ivanov and Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski.