Bulgaria has a very clear and consistent position on the European integration of North Macedonia, based on the need to strictly implement the European consensus of July 2022.
This was said by Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov during the meeting with Manuel Saracin, Special Representative for the Western Balkans at the German Foreign Ministry, BGNES reports.
During the meeting, the Bulgarian side stressed that it has no intention to set "new conditions" but will also not allow deviation from the agreements reached, the first of which is the inclusion of Bulgarians, on an equal footing with other communities, in the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia.
The Bulgarian side expressed fears that the increased statements by government representatives in Skopje, questioning the implementation of the commitments and making provocations against Bulgaria, only lead to further delays in the accession process of the neighboring country. The Bulgarian side also stressed the importance of economic and transport connectivity in the region and the need for additional investments in this area.
Kondov and Saracin discussed the current developments in the region and the opportunities for cooperation between Bulgaria and Germany to ensure regional security and stability. Kondov reaffirmed Bulgaria's support for the EU's increased commitment to strengthening the resilience of the Western Balkan countries in the context of the complicated geopolitical environment, as well as for the enlargement policy based on the principle of own merits in meeting the established conditions and criteria. | BGNES
