Skopje, 5 October 2021 (MIA) — VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski, accompanied by Aerodrom Municipality mayoral candidate Timcho Mucunski, met Tuesday with the European People's Party leader Donald Tusk at an EPP summit in Ljubljana, according to a VMRO-DPMNE press release. According to the party, Mickoski and Tusk discussed VMRO-DPMNE’s cooperation with the EPP and the country's European integration. Mickoski said the country "has entered a new cycle of crisis" and "keeps moving away from the date for negotiations with the European Union." “In addition to the numerous concessions of Zoran Zaev, new dates and new obstacles are being set that need to be overcome, which means that the country is losing potential in terms of fulfilling this strategic goal,” Mickoski is cited as saying in the press release. The opposition leader, however, said that despite his “objections to the crime and increased corruption, lack of judicial reform and economic regression, the country should make progress in its EU integration, because it is in the interest of the entire Western Balkans.” mr/