The European Commission has refused to comment on the tensions between Bulgaria and North Macedonia since 4 February. However, officials told BNT that the Commission was closely monitoring the development of relations between the two countries and called for "promoting an atmosphere of dialogue and mutual respect and avoiding unnecessary tensions".

"Attempts to improve ties, to reconcile Bulgaria and North Macedonia have been undermined by some specific actions of the authorities in Skopje, who for extremely unconvincing reasons and contrary to assurances given beforehand, did not allow Bulgarian citizens to pay tribute to Gotse Delchev," caretaker Foreign Minister Nikolay Milkov said at a briefing.

"Unfortunately, the responses and comments we are hearing from Skopje simply raise the question whether we are talking about one and the same thing," the minister added.