Petrova ahead of meeting with Mucunski: I expect "a desire for progress" from Skopje
The meeting in Sofia, initiated by North Macedonia, is held on the margins of a ministerial conference about Pan‑European Corridor 8.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Čamova said she expects "a desire for progress" from Skopje ahead of a planned meeting with her North Macedonian counterpart Timcho Mucunski in Sofia on 8 October 2026.
Meeting on the margins of Corridor 8 talks
The two ministers will meet in Sofia on the sidelines of a ministerial conference devoted to the strategic importance of the Pan‑European Corridor 8. The encounter was initiated by the North Macedonian side, Petrova-Čamova commented before the discussion.
Petrova-Čamova framed the meeting as an opportunity to test the political will for advancing North Macedonia's European integration, saying she hopes to hear concrete signals from Skopje.
The session comes amid ongoing bilateral contacts between Sofia and Skopje over issues linked to EU accession and regional connectivity. Officials from both capitals are using the Corridor 8 forum to hold separate bilateral talks alongside the multilateral programme.
Representatives at the conference said the corridor discussions focus on transport and infrastructure links across the region; ministers are expected to combine those technical talks with bilateral diplomacy during the day.
After the meeting, both foreign ministries will likely issue statements summarising any agreed next steps and follow-up actions, particularly on matters touching European integration and cross‑border cooperation.
Photo: press material from the event
