site.btaBulgaria Stands by Its Position on North Macedonia's EU Integration, without Turning the Matter into Bilateral Issue - PM Zhelyazkov

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said the unanimity of Bulgarian MEPs and the resolution passed by Bulgaria's National Assembly clearly show this country's position on the draft report concerning North Macedonia's EU integration progress. "We will stand by this position, without turning the matter into a bilateral issue," Zhelyazkov said at Friday's Question Time in Parliament.

On May 30, the National Assembly passed unanimously a resolution on the progress of the Republic of North Macedonia in the process of accession to the European Union. Bulgaria's position is clear, Zhelyazkov said, adding that Sofia and Skopje "do not have a bilateral issue". All issues with the Republic of North Macedonia have been addressed by the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness and Cooperation. The negotiating framework for the country's EU accession is based on what is known as the French proposal, made during the French EU Council Presidency, the Prime Minister said. "The conditions that the Republic of North Macedonia must meet as a candidate country are clearly defined. They are to be fulfilled during the negotiations, which is not a bilateral matter," he added.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs at the European Parliament (EP) Wednesday agreed to postpone the vote on the report on a proposal by rapporteur Thomas Waitz. Zhelyazkov was referring to the unanimity of all 17 Bulgarian MEPs, who signed a letter expressing doubts about the report and irregularities, including leaks of inside parliamentary information to officials in Skopje.

The vote in the parliamentary committee is scheduled to take place on June 24 and in the EP plenary in Strasbourg in July.

Taking a question from Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov, Prime Minister Zhelyazkov said "the postponement does not set a precedent." "Our positions on the findings in the report have been stated clearly. They concern not only Bulgaria. Responsibility for the wording of the report rests solely with the Members of the European Parliament," he added.  

Kostadinov said the report was "dubious to say the least" and what Bulgaria had achieved was only a "temporary success". In his words, "the Prime Minister's statement was diplomatic but it lacked firmness."