site.btaBulgaria's Policy on North Macedonia's EU Integration Is Stable and Firm, Says Foreign Minister

Talking to reporters here on Friday, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said that Bulgaria's European restrained diplomatic tone and behaviour, in absolute counterpoint to the sometimes very hysterical behaviour of other countries, should not be mistaken for lack of activity. Georgiev was commenting on a National Assembly resolution adopted earlier in the day on North Macedonia's progress towards EU accession. "Not only in recent days, but also in general Bulgaria's policy on the European integration of the Western Balkans and specifically of our western neighbour - the Republic of North Macedonia - is completely stable and firm," he underscored.

"Bulgaria will continue to respect the 2022 agreement. We will not budge an inch from it," the Foreign Minister said. He was referring to an agreement between Sofia and Skopje, with France playing a mediating role, to allow North Macedonia in the EU under certain conditions, including the incorporation of Bulgarians as founding people in the country's Constitution. "We will not stop reiterating that compliance with the European requirements is what is needed to make progress, and the membership criteria set in the 2022 EU-Skopje consensus must be met in order for this country to move further in its European integration process," Georgiev said.

He thanked the National Assembly for its active position and for the fact that the decision was adopted with such a majority. This shows once again that there is a full consensus in the society not only on North Macedonia but also on the whole European integration process concerning the Western Balkans, he noted. The Minister pointed out that they are working excellently with the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee and their efforts are joint.

Asked whether Bulgaria would veto North Macedonia's EU entry if the accession negotiations are launched before there is a change in the Constitution, Minister Georgiev said that from all the talks he has had so far, including two days ago with his Austrian counterpart, there is no attitude in that direction. On the contrary, both the European Council President and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs said the same thing: "No option B, no plan B. There is only one plan - to change the Constitution, to meet the cluster criteria, to get the process moving," Georgiev quoted them as saying. In his words, his Austrian counterpart said the same: Skopje should use the toolbox to talk but also meet the accession criteria.