"We want to give a strong signal that the European Union sees the Republic of North Macedonia, sees the region as an integral part of its not only geographical but also political and economic development. The countries of the Western Balkans need to be integrated into the EU as soon as possible." This is what Bulgaria’s MEP from the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, said in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio. He was the organizer of a virtual conference on the topic"The Western Balkans beyond 2020: Actions and Solutions during a pandemic".

The Western Balkans have been a priority for the European Commission since the beginning of its mandate, EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi  said at the forum. "The future of the region is in the European Union - it is in their interest as well as ours. In this regard, the 2020 enlargement package, which we adopted together with the Economic and Investment Plan, provides a detailed overview of the priority reforms that remain at the heart of the EU accession process."

"The European Commission has a commitment to the Western Balkans with huge funding - either as grants or as loans," Ilhan Kyuchyuk told BNR, recalling that the amount the EC has set aside during the current crisis is equal to 3.3 billion euros. "The EU is aware of the major problems facing the Western Balkans, mainly related to the demographic crisis and the brain drain and the inability of young and active people to remain in the Western Balkans," he added.

The conference, organized by Kyuchyuk, coincided with a period of tangible tension between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. The two countries must settle their differences by November 10^th so that North Macedonia can pave the way for negotiations with the EU. Two days ago, Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva announced at a briefing in Sofia that Bulgaria was still unable to approve the negotiating framework for North Macedonia, as the Macedonian side had been systematically violating the Neighborhood Agreement, hindrances were created for Bulgarian investments and no steps were being taken to overcome the language of hatred.

According to Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Brussels has a hard time understanding today's rhetoric between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria. "The great achievement of the agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia is in finding of the wording" common ", because our common past, common history and common roots, in his words, will lay "a very solid foundation for our common future."

Enlargement policy strengthens the EU's presence on the world stage, it is a geostrategic investment in a stable, strong and united Europe, said MRF leader Mustafa Karadayi, who was among the participants in the conference "Western Balkans beyond 2020: Actions and solutions during of a pandemic". According to him, quoted by BTA, the Bulgarian ethnic model of tolerance and togetherness can serve as an example for the countries of the Western Balkans to overcome historical strata and smoldering ethnic conflicts, which will open the doors of countries on their path to the EU. Mustafa Karadayi predicts that the launched economic and investment plan for the region will have exactly this strategic goal - to mobilize funds for key investments in the fields of transport, energy, green and digital transition, which will create sustainable growth and jobs.

Compiled by Elena Karkalanova

English: Rossitsa Petkova