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Mucunski on the meeting with Georgiev: We talked about the need to unblock our path to EU membership

by AI | 17.Feb 2025 | Europe in brief AI

We want a process that is predictable, that has a clear beginning and a clear end. We as a Government will not accept any solution or any compromise under any threat or pressure. Every compromise should correspond to the reality in which we live and with the European values that Europe constantly speaks to all of us in the whole region, said Mucunski.

Meeting of the heads of the diplomacies of North Macedonia and Bulgaria, Timcho Mutsunski (L) and Georg Georgiev on the sidelines of the 61st Munich Security Conference. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia

Skopje – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timčo Mucunski met with his Bulgarian colleague Georg Georgiev on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, where, according to the MFA, bilateral differences, Sofia’s blockade of the state’s European path, and the position of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria were discussed.

In a statement to the public broadcasting service, Mucunski emphasized that he and Georgiev talked about the need to unblock our path to full membership. – We want a process that is predictable, with a clear beginning and a clear end. As a Government, we will not accept any solution or compromise under duress or pressure. Every compromise must correspond to the reality we live in and to the European values that Europe constantly talks about to all of us in the entire region, Mucunski stated. 

The Minister added that he and Georgiev talked about the need to unblock our path to full membership. – We talked about the need for a clear and predictable path that is in line with European standards and principles. We talked about the need to apply appropriate minority rights in neighboring Bulgaria, especially in terms of the need to implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. When Europe talks to us about the implementation of European values, it is appropriate that we also defend our positions, i.e., the positions of all Macedonians living in any country in the world, including neighboring Bulgaria, emphasized Mucunski.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade previously announced that at the meeting, Mucunski regretted that “instead of developing good neighborly policy, the relations between the two countries remain burdened with bilateral disputes, which have become an unprincipled obstacle to the Macedonian Euro-integration process.” – He also emphasized that all open issues should be resolved responsibly, through dialogue and with mutual respect and understanding, because good neighborly relations, among other things, imply support for European integrations as a strategic commitment of the state, the Ministry’s statement indicated. (February 16)