site.btaPresident Radev: North Macedonia Blocks Its Own Path to EU Membership

Bulgaria is not blocking the Republic of North Macedonia on its path to European Union membership, said Head of State Rumen Radev after his meeting with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic.

The Republic of North Macedonia is holding itself back because it still does not want to fully comply with the Copenhagen criteria for membership, the President added. “It is very clearly stated there that one of the main criteria is non-discrimination and human rights. We have a clear consensus, adopted in July 2022, by the Bulgarian government, the government of the Republic of Macedonia, and all EU member states,” Radev commented.

“We have been waiting for three years now for the Republic of North Macedonia to fulfil a clearly stated condition that would open the door to the start of negotiations - guaranteeing the equality of Bulgarians in the country by enshrining it in the Constitution. This is what we want. We are constructive and well-intentioned towards our neighbours despite their constant aggressive, provocative, and even hateful and insulting language towards us. We are doing everything possible to ensure that they fulfil the criteria and conditions that have been accepted and recorded,” Radev pointed out.  

The President noted Parliament's decision regarding the progress of the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as the letter he sent at the end of June to the leaders of the European institutions and EU member states. “Bulgaria is not imposing any additional conditions on the Republic of North Macedonia,” Radev said. “We will not back down from protecting the rights of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia,” the head of state added.

The Bulgarian President is on a two-day official visit to Croatia. Together with Zoran Milanovic, they held a meeting and led the plenary talks between the official delegations before the joint statement.