The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken note of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) report on the Republic of North Macedonia’s progress, including its assessments and findings on the country's European integration process.

• EP Foreign Affairs Committee rejects all Bulgarian proposals on the Macedonian issue

'We welcome AFET’s determination not to be drawn into speculative nationalist narratives related to claims of a “centuries-old Macedonian identity”, which contradict European values of inclusion and hurt the feelings of both Bulgarians and representatives of other communities in North Macedonia,' said the Bulgarian MFA in a statement.

The position emphasizes that Bulgaria “has no objections to the contemporary ‘modern’ perceptions of identity of any individual or community — this is a matter of personal choice. Unfortunately, manipulative interpretations of this stance by the authorities in Skopje often serve as an excuse for failing to meet commitments. This is one of the reasons for the delay in North Macedonia’s European integration process.”

The MFA highlights that Bulgaria’s concerns about North Macedonia’s policies relate primarily to two key issues: guaranteeing the right of Bulgarians in North Macedonia to self-determination without fear of persecution or discrimination and preventing provocations against millions of Bulgarian citizens — who are also citizens of the European Union — many of whom are descendants of Bulgarians from the geographical region of Macedonia.

Bulgaria reaffirms its commitment to all elements of the 2022 European Consensus, the implementation of which is the only path to the European integration of its south-western neighbour. This position was firmly confirmed by the decisions of the Bulgarian National Assembly in June 2022 and May 2025.”