Bulgarian MEPs stay united against North Macedonian provocations

Bulgarian MEPs condemned the arson of cars at the Bulgarian embassy in Skopje and said that this is the result of the hate speech against Bulgaria that has been going on in North Macedonia for years. This happened at a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, dedicated to the progress of the Western Balkan countries on the path to the EU. In their speeches, Bulgarian MEPs from all political groups pointed out that "constitutional changes and good neighbourly relations are not new conditions, but part of the agreed framework" for starting negotiations with the EU and "protecting the rights of citizens who self-identify as Bulgarians is a matter of European values ​​and the rule of law", and Skopje must comply with the commitments made, BTA reports.

On June 17, the European Parliament will vote on the report on North Macedonia's progress on the path to the EU. Rapporteur Thomas Weitz has submitted an amendment requested by Skopje. It revises the good-neighbourly agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia and blocks the work of the commission on the common history between the two countries.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov