North Macedonia

The Assembly of Bulgaria discussed today the decision accepting the proposal of the French Presidency of the EU regarding the negotiating framework for North Macedonia and Albania.

On Thursday night, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Bulgarian politicians "from across the political spectrum" to support a compromise proposed by France that would allow the lifting of Bulgaria's veto over the start of membership talks with North Macedonia.

"The proposal of the French Presidency is unacceptable in this version for the Republic of North Macedonia".

This was stated by Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski at a press conference after the Western Balkans-European Union summit in Brussels.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is disappointed that Bulgaria continues to block talks with Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM).

Prime Minister Kirill Petkov blamed the mafia and Russia for the fall of his reformist government, foreign media reported after the first successful no-confidence vote in Bulgaria, which toppled the cabinet yesterday.

The meeting of EU-WB leaders lasted more than three hours, and the main topic of discussion was ways to strengthen the region's integration into the EU.
Except for Vui, all leaders of the Western Balkan 6 attended the meeting.

The French presidency's proposal to resolve the dispute shook the Macedonian government after three small parties threatened to leave if the cabinet approved a draft sent to the Bulgarian parliament to end the dispute between Skopje and Sofia.

At the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels and at the meeting of European leaders after that, no concrete proposal is expected from Bulgaria to lift its veto on North Macedonia.

The leaders of the six countries in the region were invited to a meeting with the leaders of the European Council, which should be held tomorrow before the beginning of the regular June summit of the Union, at which enlargement will be discussed.

"I advised Prime Minister Kovachevski not to go to the summit in Brussels just to take pictures and to endure the humiliation of Bulgaria," President Stevo Pendarovski said in an interview with TV24.