“As long as the treaty between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia is not being observed, the Bulgarian Socialist Party for Bulgaria (BSP) will not greenlight North Macedonia’s EU accession negotiations,” BSP leader Korneliya Ninova said in an interview with Bulgarian Free TV, and added that this issue had been set down as a “red line” during the negotiations on the formation of a government last autumn. Korneliya Ninova was adamant that the agreement among the four parties stipulates that the BSP reaffirms Bulgaria’s common position.

“I have always said that we support the EU membership of the Republic of North Macedonia but that we shall not agree to this taking place to the detriment of Bulgaria’s national interest, and as long as the terms of the bilateral agreement between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia are not being observed,” she stated.