EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi has asked North Macedonia to make additional efforts and understand Bulgaria's concerns in order to find a solution acceptable to both sides, North Macedonian website Sakam da Kazam has reported.

Várhelyi has told the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee that this was "a matter of political will, commitment and determination" and expressed the European Commission's readiness to help in finding a solution.

The Commissioner has warned that chances of North Macedonia and Albania of starting accession talks with the EU this year are declining, BTA reports.