Bulgaria has stated that Northern Macedonia must fully fulfill its commitments to admission to the European Union, agreed in the European consensus of 2022.
During a joint statement with European Council President Antonio Costa, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stressed that there is no room for reviewing conditions and that respecting agreements is a necessity for the country’s advancement towards EU membership.
Zhelyazkov recalled the previous cooperation with Macedonian leaders Zoran Zaev and Dimitar Kovacevski, which led to the signing of the good neighborliness agreement.
He stressed that the compromise reached during the EU French Presidency was approved by the Bulgarian Council and Parliament, and there have been no changes in principles or approaches that would justify the allegations from Skopje for a so-called Bulgarian dictatorship.
The prime minister made it clear that Bulgaria, through a National Assembly decision at the beginning of the year, does not require additional engagements from neighboring countries.
He described as unnecessarily and unnecessary any appeals to the Constitutional Court of Northern Macedonia against the protocol of the good neighborly agreement, stressing that the protocol provides for annual implementation reviews and is in full compliance with the European consensus.
Zhelyazkov underlined the importance of respecting the rights of the Bulgarian minority in Northern Macedonia, including constitutional recognition, as a prerequisite for full neighborly relations.
He also expressed Bulgaria’s support for EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, describing it as a key factor for regional security and prosperity.
Regarding EU decision -making, the Bulgarian Prime Minister argued that consensus is essential for maintaining confidence and effectiveness, warning against the use of qualified majority decisions on enlargement and foreign policy issues.
European Council President Antonio Costa supported Bulgaria’s stance, stating that the 2022 admission conditions must be met by Northern Macedonia to advance in negotiations with the EU.
He stressed that progress depends on the respect of agreed commitments in the European consensus.
