No advance. Merkel asked Sofia and Skopje to understand each other

In a joint briefing with Borissov and Zaev, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for understanding in the region.

Merkel did not comment on the essence of relations between Skopje and Sodfia, but said that the Berlin process was helping the reconciliation between the countries, overcoming historical tensions and the legacy of the past.

“All the best and to understand us – remember that this is very important”, Merkel said in a video conference.

“The Berlin process tries to overcome the differences and the legacy of the past. I hope this process continues.”she added.

The German presidency of the EU, which expires at the end of the year, is determined to move the enlargement process forward.

For now, however, Bulgaria is refusing to approve the negotiating framework of the Republic of North Macedonia, which will be discussed at the General Affairs Council meeting on November 17, as Bulgaria’s requirements for Skopje are not reflected. at. Skopje, on the other hand, practically blocked negotiations with Bulgaria and refused to honor Bulgarian reservations.

Zaev: There is clear political support for EU enlargement

The Macedonian Prime Minister said in Sofia that there was “A renewed momentum and clear political support for the enlargement process and accession negotiations.”

We must seize this opportunity for the good of all citizens, added.

Borissov, for his part, reaffirmed Sofia’s commitment to EU enlargement, but did not comment on the disputes with Skopje.

During the forum, the leaders of the Western Balkan countries signed a Declaration on the Common Regional Market and a Declaration on the Green Agenda online.

“We will not give in to pressure”

Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, for her part, called on North Macedonia not to depend on Germany to pressure Bulgaria to back off and give the green light to Skopje talks with the EU.

“And our prime minister has good relations with Chancellor Merkel, and relations with Germany in general are very good.” Zaharieva told BNT.

“We have comments not only in terms of the text of the story. We have comments in terms of progress in infrastructure projects, in Corridor №8. In the next EU funding framework, they have not presented a single infrastructure project this- west. And this is the connection with Bulgaria. Today I will ask you when you will convene the intergovernmental commission to monitor the implementation of the agreement. ” Zaharieva said.

“Let’s go back to the contract”

“Let’s try to focus together on how to make up for what we missed a year and a half, declaring and declaring what they will not comply with, what Bulgaria was like, what our claims were. Let’s go back to the implementation of the contract and get back in a good neighborhood tone”,she added.

For more than a year and a half, we have been pushing for a more intensive implementation of the neighborhood agreement with Skopje. In our opinion, progress has only been made in the field of tourism, that is. We see an increase in the flow of tourists in both countries. However, this is not enough, Zaharieva said.

Sofia and Skopje accuse each other of non-compliance with the 2017 Neighborhood Agreement. Skopje claims that Sofia is not fulfilling its commitment to work towards its accession to the EU, and Bulgaria does not believe that controversial historical issues will be resolved or an end to the speech of hate.

BAS undermined the government

In this context, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) supported the government for its decision not to accept the proposed framework for the negotiations between the EU and North Macedonia.

The Academy leadership stated that the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences will defend with scientific means the historical truth about the past of the “historical-geographical region of Macedonia”, including the Bulgarian ethnic and cultural affiliation of the majority of its inhabitants.

Borissov: Bulgaria has put the region’s European perspective back on the EU agenda

Borissov, for his part, said in a briefing with Merkel and Zaev that there is a lot of symbolism in the joint celebration of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia of the Berlin Process, which is “a confirmation of our strong commitment to the development of the region”.

“We were convinced that such a move is a natural continuation of what was achieved during the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in 2018 and at the same time, 15 years during the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki, Bulgaria returned to the Order of the EU. on the European perspective of the region “, Borisov pointed out.

The Prime Minister pointed out that, as a joint host of the Berlin Process, Bulgaria is guided by its desire to help the countries of the region on the path of their European integration, as well as to strengthen good neighborly relations.

During the forum, the leaders of the Western Balkan countries signed a statement on the Common Regional Market and a statement on the Green Agenda online.

Borissov added that all EU member states have agreed to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, but signing this declaration on a Green Agenda for the Western Balkan countries is good, because there will be real competition.

The purpose of the other Declaration on a Common Regional Market is to allow this population of around 20 million to have much higher incomes and continue to live in that region.

The Berlin Process for the Western Balkans is a politico-diplomatic initiative personally launched by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in August 2014. The participants in the process are the Western Balkan countries: Albania, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia , Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo. , as well as the countries: Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Great Britain, Poland, Greece and Bulgaria.

The idea of ​​the Berlin Process is to complement and support the process of European integration of the Western Balkan countries.