France is ready to support Bulgaria so the country does not lose any defence capabilities until the time it receives the F-16 fighter aircraft from USA, the presidency announced after a telephone conversation between the Presidents of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and of France Emmanuel Macron. 

• Delivery of F-16 fighter aircraft to Bulgaria will be delayed

The two presidents also discussed the European integration of North Macedonia.

“It is in the interest of stability in united Europe that every EU candidate uphold European values, connected with the rights of its citizens, and Bulgaria expects categorical results on the part of North Macedonia in this respect before it gives its consent to the launch of negotiations,” Rumen Radev pointed out. He called for the negotiating framework with Skopje to contain legal guarantees that the Macedonian side shall keep the commitments it has assumed.

Emmanuel Macron also talked to the prime ministers of Bulgaria and North Macedonia Kiril Petkov and Dimitar Kovačevski, the French side has announced.