The USA continues on a bilateral basis to urge both Bulgaria and North Macedonia to resolve their disputes quickly. We believe the future of the Western Balkans is squarely with the EU, Ned Price, US State Department spokesperson said at a department press briefing.

Asked how the negotiations are progressing, Ned Price said: “These two countries (North Macedonia and Albania – editorial note) have laid the groundwork, and the time, we believe, is now to move forward together to the next phase in the long and challenging accession process. The historic Prespa Agreement demonstrated that countries in the Western Balkans are capable of doing difficult things, making compromises, and finding solutions, and we’re confident that Bulgaria and North Macedonia will do the same by negotiating their bilateral disputes.”