Bulgaria: Open to dialogue but Skopje must meet obligations

Bulgaria says it is willing to hold constructive talks with North Macedonia but insists Skopje must meet outstanding commitments before progress on EU accession can continue.

Bulgarian Foreign Ministry responds after Macedonian minister's call

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement underlining that the accession of North Macedonia to the European Union is a matter for EU institutions and must follow established rules and procedures. The ministry added that it supports the work of the European Commission with all candidate countries and evaluates results achieved within the European Council.

In the statement Sofia said: "The accession process of North Macedonia to the EU is a European matter that should be resolved within the European institutions and in accordance with the established rules and procedures. Bulgaria supports the work of the European Commission with each of the countries negotiating membership, assessing the results achieved within the framework of the European Council. We expect North Macedonia to fulfil its obligations and to start the necessary changes to move forward on its European path."

The Bulgarian ministry also stressed that good-neighbour relations are an essential element of the EU accession process, a necessary condition for progress toward membership and a fundamental basis for building trust. "Bulgaria has always been and remains open to constructive dialogue with the Republic of North Macedonia," the ministry added.

The reaction from Sofia followed comments by North Macedonia's foreign minister, Timcho Mucunski, who told the national news agency in an interview that his country will not accept at any price a compromise that fails to provide predictability for the state. Mucunski said it is therefore very important that the European Union be included in all further talks with Sofia.

Photo: Arhiva