Bulgaria expects North Macedonia to implement 2022 commitments

Sofia, October 8, 2026 — Bulgaria expects North Macedonia to carry out the commitments agreed in 2022, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova‑Chamova said after meeting her Macedonian counterpart, Timcho Mucunski, on the sidelines of the international ministerial conference on Corridor 8 in Sofia.

Petrova‑Chamova told reporters that Brussels‑related conditions have not changed since 2022 and that Bulgaria expects North Macedonia to implement the constitutional amendments and “all other elements of the process agreed in 2022.” She said that the main way to build trust is by fulfilling undertaken obligations and expressed hope to see positive steps soon.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said both capitals will maintain open communication on issues of mutual interest.

Speaking at the same event, Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski stressed that North Macedonia’s path to EU membership should be merit‑based and not weighed down by history. He underlined that the country is fully aligned with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and has shown through results that it is a strong candidate.

Corridor 8 and regional cooperation

Mucunski described Corridor 8 as a national strategic priority with European, economic and security significance. He said progress is being made on key road and rail sections and that cooperation with neighbouring countries on connectivity and interoperability along the route is continuing. After the entry into force of the agreement on a cross‑border rail tunnel with Bulgaria, the joint commission has already met twice, he said.

The ministers also discussed the case of 23‑year‑old Iva Mihajlova from Kochani, who is charged with serious traffic offences after an October 2025 crash that left one person dead and several injured. Mihajlova, who was also injured in the accident and holds dual Macedonian and Bulgarian citizenship, has asked for urgent medical treatment in Bulgaria.

Mucunski said the legal proceedings and the medical situation are separate issues: executive authorities cannot interfere in judicial decisions and questions about the legality of detention are for the courts. On the health side, he stressed that the accused has the right to adequate and modern treatment in North Macedonia and that, as a gesture of goodwill, Skopje offered for Bulgarian doctors to visit and review her care. Petrova‑Chamova described the case as humanitarian and welcomed the proposal for a medical consultation involving Bulgarian specialists.

Photo: press material from the event