site.btaBulgaria Is Ready to Help North Macedonia on European Integration Path If Necessary Reforms Are Implemented, Head of State Says

Bulgaria is ready to help North Macedonia on the path of European integration and does so, but expects the steps of the European consensus to be followed, President Rumen Radev told journalists in Warsaw on Tuesday, where he participated in the Three Seas Summit.

Radev specified that the issue of North Macedonia's European integration was discussed at the meeting between him and European Council President Antonio Costa.

"I can say that this was one of the main topics. Do not forget that when Antonio Costa was the prime minister of Portugal, the country held the presidency of the Council of the European Union. He had several meetings with me and many telephone conversations, with a promise that we would indeed make sure that the green light was given to North Macedonia. That did not happen. I represented Bulgaria in the European Council at that time. Solution was later reached during the French Presidency, with a realistic negotiating framework that protects the Bulgarian interest and also gives a perspective to the Republic of North Macedonia. So, yes, this was one of the main issues," the President said.

Asked whether the topic of possible concessions from the Bulgarian side had been raised, the Radev said: "We are not talking about concessions at all. Such a word does not exist in my vocabulary with regard to the Republic of North Macedonia. I fully understand the President of the European Council because he wants the integration of the Western Balkans to be accelerated. Especially against the background of geopolitical turmoil. On the other hand, what he is getting from me as a very clear position is that this integration process must be sustainable and irreversible. It should be based on respect for the fundamental democratic principles of the European Union and the Copenhagen membership criteria. The Republic of North Macedonia has clear obligations as described in the negotiating framework and its protocols. They simply have to be implemented."

"I expect the leadership of the Republic of North Macedonia to show statesmanship, to finally fulfil the first conditions - the adoption of a change in the constitution so that the door for negotiations is opened," the President said. 

"I expect the problems inside the Republic of North Macedonia with the rule of law, the fight against corruption and the necessary reforms not to be hidden under the mask that you see Bulgaria is in the way. No, Bulgaria is not in the way, it is ready to help. North Macedonia just needs to undertake the necessary reforms," the head of State further added. 

Asked about the war in Ukraine and whether the issue will be discussed at the talks in Warsaw, Radev expressed hope that the peace negotiations would speed up: "And not only that, I hope to see a real vision of Europe to achieve peace rather than to continue the war."

The head of State also commented on the mismanagement charges against former interior minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, who served in a caretaker cabinet appointed by Radev: "Ivan Demerdzhiev will hardly be forgiven for revealing the whole affair about the Plovdiv police officers, the smuggling and the protection of smuggling from a high level in the Interior Ministry. We must find the truth about these issues," Radev said.