Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria supports efforts of Western Balkans on their path to EU, but with some conditions

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva
Photo: mfa.bg

"We will continue to support the efforts of the six partner countries (Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania) on their path to the EU, but they must also take their responsibility and follow the reform process." This was stated by Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva at a press conference after a video conference meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani.

The talks, part of the joint presidency of the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans, were preparatory for the Berlin Process summit tomorrow, BNR reports. Zaharieva reaffirmed Bulgaria's position that Bulgaria and North Macedonia should resolve the still open issues and that North Macedonia should stop using hate speech.

"Bulgaria's interests in relation to North Macedonia must be protected in order for the European integration process to continue and the European Council cannot resolve bilateral issues." Heiko Maas, the German Foreign Minister who holds the presidency of the EU Council and took part in the meeting said.

On Friday, Bulgaria informed the European Commission that it was unable to support the negotiating framework for North Macedonia, as it did not guarantee the protection of Bulgaria's interests. At the heart of Bulgaria's position on Skopje's EU membership talks is the request for implementation of the Treaty and the framework position of the parliament from 2019. Bulgaria insists that Skopje discontinue its claims for recognition of the so-called "Macedonian minority" in Bulgaria and to use the phrase "official language of the Republic of North Macedonia", which can not be considered as a recognition by the Bulgarian side of the existence of the so-called "Macedonian language".



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Prosecutor’s office is investigating Romanian citizens for illegal migrant trafficking

The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has initiated pre-trial proceedings regarding an organized criminal group for the trafficking of migrants, the prosecutor’s office has announced. Evidence was collected during the investigation regarding 16..

published on 11/25/24 2:51 PM
Chief Inspector Zornitsa Shumanova (L)

Domestic violence figures have been growing steadily

The number of crimes committed in the conditions of domestic violence has gone up by 54% since the beginning of the year compared to last year, the Ministry of Interior announced on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. A..

published on 11/25/24 2:36 PM
Sofia

Use of solid fuels will be banned in 9 Sofia regions

As of next year, use of solid fuels for domestic heating in buildings which are part of central heating and gas supply networks will be banned in nine Sofia regions, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Nadezhda Bobcheva announced at the opening of a round table..

published on 11/25/24 2:11 PM