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

Andrey Kovatchev: The Western Balkan countries must do their homework if they want to join the EU

MEP Andrey Kovatchev
Photo: BGNES-archive

There is no need for a mediator in relations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, MEP Andrey Kovatchev told BNR on the occasion of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's proposal to mediate between Sofia and Skopje.

Regarding the decoupling of North Macedonia and Albania on their ЕU accession path, Andrey Kovatchev said that the main narrative of North Macedonia’s leadership is that the country is being blocked by Sofia, and that “the bad Bulgarians are to blame for everything”.

“Bulgaria has always supported and continues to support the EU integration of all Western Balkan countries, but they must do their homework”, MEP Kovatchev added. "Regarding the Republic of North Macedonia, the main homework is to overcome hatred and the falsification of history, because that is where the discrimination of people who now want to identify as Bulgarians comes from."

Andrey Kovatchev also stated that the negotiating framework for North Macedonia will remain intact.



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

Interior Minister Daniel Mitov

Inspections launched at 2 ministries over death of young man in Varna

By order of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, a thorough inspection is to take place by the end of Friday, of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health in connection with the death of 36-year old Yavor Georgiev, the..

published on 6/12/25 1:57 PM

Protest in Sofia demands referendum on adoption of Euro

An organizing committee, supported by the opposition nationalist party Vazrazhdane, organized a protest in front of the building housing one of the ruling parties – GERB – in Sofia. The protesters are demanding a referendum on the date of..

published on 6/12/25 1:36 PM

Bulgarian family forced to leave Ballymena amidst anti-immigrant riots in Northern Ireland

Bulgarian mother Mika Koleva and her children were forced to leave Northern Ireland after her home in Ballymena, County Antrim, was attacked by protesters . “This is what makes me want to move out of here to save my children,” she told BBC News..

published on 6/12/25 12:21 PM