Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Svetlan Stoev confirmed the consistent support of Bulgaria for the European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans at a meeting with the Secretary General of the Sarajevo-based Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu. When it comes to North Macedonia, however, Stoev pointed out the need to comply with the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation, as well as with the Bulgaria's efforts to intensify bilateral dialogue and restore trust at all levels, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said.

Earlier today, at a forum in Madrid, EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell called on Bulgaria to be more flexible on the issue of EU enlargement, Reuters reported. The agency recalled that this week EU leaders reaffirmed the promise of EU membership for the Western Balkans, given about 18 years ago, but did not commit to a specific date.