Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia are not protected, the vice president believes

Photo: BTA

Bulgaria does not impose additional conditions on the process and negotiations of the Republic of North Macedonia with the EU, said Vice President Iliana Iotova at the opening of the “EU meets the Balkans” forum in Sofia.

The forum is attended by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and government representatives of Turkey, Romania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro.

Iotova stressed that bilateral relations between the two countries are not a problem for Skopje not to start negotiations with the EU. She noted that this is the thesis of “our colleagues from the Republic of North Macedonia”, as well as some European politicians and experts who speak in the direction that the process is blocked by both sides.

“We want the European criteria to be respected, just as every country that has embarked on the path to real EU membership has respected these criteria,” said the vice president. "We continue to believe that the rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia are not protected," Iotova emphasized and noted that the framework agreed with the EU in 2022, based on the French proposal, does not set out Bulgarian claims, but European criteria for membership, the main of which is the protection of human rights.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

BICA and the Migration Agency of Uzbekistan signed an agreement on labour migration

Bulgarian entrepreneurs arrange the employment of workers from Uzbekistan

The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) and the Migration Agency of Uzbekistan have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of labor migration. The document lays the foundations for a long-term partnership between the two countries..

published on 5/18/25 3:04 PM
Stefan Ivanov

Stefan Ivanov participates in a rowing expedition from Australia to Africa

"The Untamed" is the name of the team comprising four rowers from the boat Rannoch 45 '' Rose'' , who have set off from the western coast of Australia across the Indian Ocean toward Kenya, Africa. On board are Evgeny Sudyr from Ukraine, Liu Yong from..

published on 5/18/25 11:44 AM
Vesela Lecheva

IOC provisionally acknowledges the election of Vessela Lecheva as President of BOC

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sent an official letter stating that it will provisionally acknowledge the election of Vessela Lecheva as President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC). This comes despite legal appeals filed in..

published on 5/18/25 10:48 AM