Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said the Government will introduce a total of 12 fresh measures, aimed at opening of 6.000 to 8.000 new jobs, boosting the competitiveness of companies, supporting the socially vulnerable families, farmers and transport workers.

The measures are part of the so-called new wave, aiming to improve Macedonia's economic and social development, Gruevski said Saturday at a press conference. A total of EUR 13 million are earmarked their implementation, he said.

"The measures are carefully projected in a period of budget cuts. They are realistic, feasible, and not a product of political pamphleteering," the PM said.

For the last several years the Government has realized over 2000 projects, measures for reforming, modernizing the country and meeting the needs of citizens, such as the construction of new roads, airports, procurement of medical equipment, labs, lifting the EU visa regime, higher pensions, salaries...Gruevski said.

"Today Europe is facing a debt crisis and recession. In spite of the fact that Macedonia is more successful in dealing with crisis than other countries, namely avoided cutting of salaries, pensions, layoffs...these developments have an impact on (the country's) economic growth and the citizens' living standard, being a serious burden to some groups of the population," Gruevski said.

Guided by our responsible approach to monitor the developments and intervene when faced with unfavorable situations created by external factors, the Government has decoded to take a set of measures that aim at improving the life of citizens, in particular of the most vulnerable ones, the PM said.

He pointed out that the measures presented a systematic approach to improving the status, competitiveness of companies, as well as to support the socially vulnerable groups.

The Government, he said, will keep applying the policy for economic, social development for the benefit of citizens and companies.