North Macedonia, Bulgaria Boost Talks on History Dispute

Less than a week before the June 22 EU Council opens, North Macedonia's leaders are travelling to neighbouring Bulgaria to explore a possible breakthrough in their dispute that would prompt Sofia to lift its blockade on the start of Skopje's EU accession talks.

North Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, the Deputy PM for EU affairs, Nikola Dimitrov, and Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani are all travelling in the delegation to Sofia on Thursday.

They are to meet Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev as well as with representatives of Bulgarian's main parties.

Bulgaria blocked the start of North Macedonia's EU accession talks last year, citing disputes over its history, language and identity, which it insists have Bulgarian roots. Skopje has repeated that it cannot compromise over sensitive issues such as national identity.

But since the start of this month, the two countries, supported by Brussels, have renewed efforts to reach a possible breakthrough.

Tight-lipped about possible breakthrough

Both governments have remained guarded regarding the details of the talks. But their most recent statements have revealed the contours of possible steps that both countries are mulling.

In a Wednesday interview for MIA news agency, Zaev said he did not wish to exaggerate hopes of a breakthrough by June 22, but that both sides were working on a solution that may come later.

"I have a feeling the problem won't be solved by June 22. Bulgaria has a technical government and has no parliament [in session, ahead of July elections], but this option is not impossible," Zaev said.

"But I believe that these days we can reach an agreement that would be ratified by us and by the next...