/ world today news/ Statement by the head of state after the meeting of the Advisory Council for National Security on the topic: “Integration of the Western Balkans into the EU. Role of the Republic of Bulgaria in EU enlargement and in the Stabilization and Association Process: Republic of North Macedonia and Albania”
Dear representatives of the media,
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
I will introduce you to the opinion and proposals of the Advisory Council for National Security on the topic: “Integration of the Western Balkans into the EU. Role of the Republic of Bulgaria in EU enlargement and in the Stabilization and Association Process: Republic of North Macedonia and Albania”.
The National Security Advisory Council discussed the prospects for the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union, which is a strategic interest of Bulgaria, coinciding with the interests of our partners and allies from the European Union and NATO.
Particular attention was paid to the integration process of the Republic of North Macedonia, which is at a standstill. It was found that for four years after the signing of the 2017 contract, the candidate country did not do what was necessary for its implementation, as well as did not give guarantees for the fulfillment of the commitments. As a result of the consultative meeting held in September 2019 at the President of the Republic, with the participation of representatives from the executive and legislative authorities, the “Framework position on the enlargement of the European Union and the process of stabilization and association: the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania” was adopted. by the Council of Ministers, supported by a declaration of the 44th National Assembly. The mentioned documents are the basis for the policy regarding the enlargement of the European Union with the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania and determined the consistently defended refusal of Bulgaria to approve the beginning of the membership negotiations of the Republic of North Macedonia.
30 years ago, on 15.01.1992, this week we will mark this date, Bulgaria was the first in the world to recognize today’s Republic of North Macedonia as a newly created independent state. Bulgaria has never denied and does not deny the right of the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia to self-determine on the basis of their own self-awareness, as well as to use their languages, according to the constitution of their country. At the same time, Bulgaria insists on the full equality of the Macedonian Bulgarians with the other parts of the peoples of the Republic of North Macedonia, explicitly written in their constitution. The decade-long policy of discrimination against the Macedonian Bulgarians, 120,000 of whom are also Bulgarian citizens – and thus EU citizens, has recently escalated into open public attacks against citizens who have declared their Bulgarian origin.
The rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians are a key element of the Copenhagen criteria for membership in the European Union, they cannot be subject to negotiations and their protection is explicitly stated in the Declaration of the National Assembly of 2019.
The participants in the Consultative Council united around the opinion that comprehensive, targeted and resourced actions are needed to restore trust and activate bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Of particular importance are the projects providing transport, infrastructure, digital and energy connectivity, with an emphasis on Corridor No. 8. This, in turn, will contribute to overcoming the stalemate in the relations between the two countries, will give an impetus to the acceleration of the negotiation process and to the sustainable development and prosperity of the region.
The members of the Consultative Council also noted what has been achieved so far in the negotiation process. In some spheres of bilateral relations, an opportunity to reach an agreement is emerging. Solving the outstanding political issues will greatly accelerate progress in all other areas.
The participants in the National Security Advisory Council reaffirmed Bulgaria’s position regarding the readiness of the Republic of Albania to start the negotiation process for membership in the European Union.
Based on the deliberations, the National Security Advisory Council adopted the following proposals to the executive and legislative branches:
1. When conducting the foreign policy of the country, the Council of Ministers shall implement the national position of Bulgaria, observing the requirements arising from the Treaty of 2017, the Framework Position of 2019 and the Declaration of the 44th National Assembly.
2. Giving consent to start negotiations for the membership of the Republic of North Macedonia in the EU should not be tied to deadlines, but to the achievement of real results, including, I would like to emphasize, the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians.
3. The executive authority should continue to work to take into account the implementation of the 2017 Treaty in the negotiation process for the membership of the Republic of North Macedonia in the EU.
4. The executive authority to prepare and provide in personnel and financial terms an action plan with measures to achieve tangible progress in all areas of bilateral relations with the Republic of North Macedonia.
5. The executive power to propose to the partners in the Republic of North Macedonia the creation of joint working groups by areas, in accordance with the Treaty on friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation, in order to activate bilateral relations.
6. The executive authority to take measures to speed up the construction of Corridor No. 8, jointly with the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania as a single project in its entirety – highway, railway. line, energy and digital connectivity.
7. The National Assembly should propose to the legislative body of the Republic of North Macedonia the creation of a structured dialogue between parliamentary committees and friendship groups, which would strengthen trust and support the overall process.
I want to thank all the participants in the Consultative Council for the active work today and for the consensus reached, because in what lies ahead as a continuation of the negotiation process, it is extremely important that Bulgarian statesmen and politicians have unity in their views and actions.
Thank you for your attention!
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