Foreign Ministry: Sofia wants sustainable European solutions to the challenges to Skopje's European integration

Bulgaria was forced to postpone its support for the start of negotiations for EU membership of the Republic of North Macedonia at the General Affairs Council meeting held on June 22, 2021. At the same meeting, Bulgaria gave a positive assessment of the achievements of the Republic of Albania in the reform process and said its "yes" to the adoption of its negotiating framework - this is stated in the position of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bulgaria’s position on the European perspective of our close neighbour, the Republic of North Macedonia, is consistent and clear. It is in line with our conviction that EU enlargement policy should be based on the fulfillment of the Copenhagen criteria for membership in the Union and the principles of one's own merits. Bulgaria continues to hold on to reliable guarantees that our fundamental interests will not be violated. The practice of trampling on the rights of people with Bulgarian identity in the Republic of North Macedonia must be stopped. We hold on to irreversibility in the full and effective implementation of the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation.

Support for EU enlargement with the countries of the Western Balkans remains a priority of Bulgarian foreign policy and our unwavering commitment. In this regard, we are determined to continue the dialogue with the Republic of North Macedonia and are focused on finding pragmatic, sustainable and mutually acceptable solutions to the challenges inherited from the past.

During the meetings of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on June 17, 2021 in Sofia with President Rumen Radev and caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev, as well as in the talks between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Svetlan Stoev and Buyar Osmani, the Republic of North Macedonia expressed readiness to fulfil the following commitments:

- Skopje to confirm to the UN as soon as possible, in accordance with Art. 11 para. 3 of the good neighbourliness agreement that the short and full name of the country refer only to the political subject "Republic of North Macedonia" and not to the geographical region "North Macedonia", part of which is located within the sovereign borders of Bulgaria. After sending this Verbal Note, Bulgaria will immediately stop insisting on the use of only the full name "Republic of North Macedonia" in the EU and international organizations;

- The Republic of North Macedonia to give up claims of Macedonia minority in Bulgaria, confirming that there are no historical, ethnic and other grounds to seek minority status for any group of people who are not its citizens in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. This would be in accordance with the clause for non-interference in the internal affairs of Bulgaria, settled in Art. 11 para. 5 of the Treaty of 2017;

- The Republic of North Macedonia to start a process of rehabilitation of the victims of Yugoslav communism, repressed on its territory because of their Bulgarian self-consciousness. This historic gesture on the part of the Republic of North Macedonia would in practice reflect our common European civilization choice;

- The Republic of Nort Macedonia to harmonise with Bulgaria the content of its curricula in order to objectively reflect our common history, laid down as a central element in the Preamble and Art. 8 para. 3 of the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness, as well as with a view to the elimination of educational content instilling hate towards Bulgaria (Art. 11 para. 6);

- Identification together with Bulgaria and removal from labels and inscriptions at monuments, memorial plates and buildings on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia, of texts instilling hate against Bulgaria and the Bulgarians.

Sofia reaffirms its desire to continue with exploratory consultations and all other necessary forms of bilateral negotiations with Skopje. We approach constructively and in good faith, but we expect the Republic of North Macedonia to proceed with the practical implementation of the high-level commitments made. Their accurate and immediate implementation will be a test of sincerity and goodwill. This will allow us to move in a really positive direction.

Following the bilateral dialogue, the caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Svetlan Stoev sent today (June 25) a letter to his counterpart Minister Bujar Osmani, in which he expressed expectation for the fulfillment of the commitments made by the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as the readiness of Bulgaria to find lasting and sustainable solutions.

Regardless of the challenges, the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia should develop full, sincere, predictable and based on the Good Neighbourliness Agreement, relations in all areas. Bulgaria has given countless proofs of its readiness for this.

The effective implementation of the Treaty should be one of the accession criteria in the Negotiating Framework for the Republic of North Macedonia. This is an internal process for the EU. At the same time, the open approach demonstrated by the Republic of North Macedonia on this topic, incl. the adoption of the good neighbourliness criiteria in the Negotiating Framework, should be welcomed.

The Bulgarian side expresses its readiness for a constructive dialogue during the forthcoming Slovenian Presidency, as well as during the next Presidencies of the Council of the EU, in order to achieve real and sustainable results in the EU enlargement process with the Western Balkans, which would undoubtedly be beneficial for the whole region and its European future, the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.

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