Political leaders discuss Bulgarian position on North Macedonia’s EU intergation

Bulgaria supports the European perspective of North Macedonia, but it should immediately develop a new position in which to link support for European Union membership to resolving controversial issues between Sofia and Skopje related to our shared history. This is the result of a consultative meeting which was held at the initiative of Bulgaria’s P5resident Rumen Radev in the building of the Presidency on September 30. The President discussed the topic with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, cabinet ministers and MPs.

Bulgarian-Macedonian relations were discussed at the highest level with a view to the work of the Joint Expert Committee on Historical and Educational Affairs, which discusses controversial topics related to the two countries’ common history. The meeting takes place weeks ahead of the expected invitation to Skopje to begin EU accession talks.

The participants in the meeting agreed that the government should develop a new position in which it would strongly protect the Bulgarian national interest and link the support for EU membership with resolving the controversial issues between Sofia and Skopje. They also insist that EU membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania should go together.

Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria: I have always said that we are one peoples. Let's say we are fraternal peoples. This fraternal war should not continue on the side of propaganda from Skopje, because we have no closer people, no one is closer to us.

Borissov said that if Bulgaria blocked North Macedonia from the EU, history would show that at the time the other 27 EU countries had supported North Macedonia, Bulgaria had not.

He added that Bulgaria had put in enormous efforts. “Our position, from the first day to now, is that it is crucial that they be accepted into the EU. However, it is extremely important that they understand that it depends on them and that it cannot happen at our expense – reshaping history”.

Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said that Bulgaria always had supported the European prospects of the countries of the Western Balkans, including the Republic of North Macedonia, but this support has never been unconditional.

Krassimir Karakachanov, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister: We are absolutely unanimous that, despite some signs of progress in the work of the Historical Commission, things are not satisfactory and the reason is that Skopje's policy to drag on. These people make fun of us and are playing for time by playing around with us.

Kristian Vigenin: When talking about a national position, I called on the government to clarify its position and then to seek a common agreement.

Speaking to media after the meeting, President Rumen Radev said that the work of the Joint Expert Committee on Historical and Educational Affairs between Bulgaria and North Macedonia was stalling and had no result on controversial issues, and the behavioуr of some Macedonian politicians created uncertainty and distrust.

Rumen Radev, President: The participants in today's meeting agreed in principle that immediate actions are needed to develop a national position with clear requirements and criteria to protect the Bulgarian national interest. These requirements and criteria should form part of the negotiating framework and make the conditions for admission of North Macedonia to the European Union mandatory. It is also important to outline the so-called red lines, which must ensure that the European integration of North Macedonia is not at the expense of using Bulgarian history, language and identity as a bragaining chip.

It also became clear that Bulgaria agreed on a rotational basis to safeguard North Macedonia's airspace. According to President Radev, this shows the constructive and responsible role of Bulgaria in the region.

The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, has said that his country accepts the recommendations of Bulgaria and expressed confidence that it is possible to find a solution to the issues with Bulgaria very quickly.