Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said Monday his country was seeking German backing for European Union membership and assistance in reforming its education sector.

Gruevski, who held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, said he had chosen to make his first official foreign trip to Germany "to send a message."

"We view Germany as (a country) we are close to," Gruevski told DPA, adding that he had big expectations for Germany's EU presidency next year.

Germany holds the rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2007 and Gruevski said his country wanted to be given a green light next year to start EU accession talks.

"We really expect some support and we are willing to work for this and to change many things in the country," he said, adding that fighting crime and boosting the judicial system were top government priorities.

Macedonia wants to join the EU by 2013 and the NATO alliance by 2009, said Gruevski.

Young and energetic

Since his center-right party won in July, Gruevski has been busy, mostly looking inward. Observers say that it was expected that the 36-year-old would make the economy his first priority: He studied economics at university, has served as finance and economic minister, and has worked for a variety of financial institutions both at home and abroad.

In fact, the man who is often criticized for his dry and bureaucratic style is best known for his reforms to the tax code and a campaign to push Macedonian consumers to by home-grown products.

But after EU criticism last month on its slow pace of reform, Gruevski and his team of under-40 ministers are looking outward and for help.

Regarding practical aid, the Macedonian leader said he would ask Merkel for technical support to help with ongoing education reforms.

Merkel, who welcomed the Gruevski at the chancellery with military honors, said: "We want to do everything possible to ensure Macedonia has a good path to the future."

Needs more political stability

The European Union in September rebuked Macedonian politicians for not cooperating enough in making the country fit for aspired EU membership.

"It is important to have a broad political consensus on a country's road to EU membership," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told reporters after a meeting with Gruevski in Brussels. "They (government and opposition) must show the willingness for political dialogue that one can expect from a mature democratic country such as the Republic of Macedonia."

Macedonia needed more "political stability" in its efforts to make progress in negotiations on closer ties with the EU, EU officials said. They also want that Macedonia step up its fight against corruption and organized crime and work harder to improve its economy and create new jobs while brining national legislation in line with EU law.

Gruevski said that Macedonia next year wants to set a date for negotiations on EU entry, vowing that Skopje would do everything to fulfil the requirements to launch accession talks.