“Unfortunately, Bulgaria is probably not going to support the start of negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia on accession to the EU, said Plamen Manushev,” chairperson of the foreign policy committee of Bulgarian parliament for BGNES. 

“Relations of good neighbourhood must be featured horizontally throughout the entire process of negotiations, in all chapters as they are opened. If they are violated in one of the chapters, the accession negotiations shall be postponed,” Manushev commented. He stressed that Sofia will insist that the name of the country be used in full – Republic of North Macedonia, instead of North Macedonia, so as not to demonstrate any claims regarding the northern part of the geographic region Macedonia.