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

Ekaterina Zaharieva: EU should not delay membership negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania

Ekaterina Zaharieva during the conference on Western Balkans
Photo: BGNES

The EU should not delay accession talks with the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania due to the French proposal for new methodology of the accession negotiations, Bulgaria’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva underlined at a conference in Sofia dedicated to the Western Balkans. Part of the reforms proposed by France are acceptable for Bulgaria, but it does not mean that the start of the EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania should be delayed until the adoption of the new methodology. The two processes can develop simultaneously, Minister Zaharieva said. Ekaterina Zaharieva voiced hopes that within 6 months North Macedonia and Albania will get a green light to begin membership negotiations with the European Union. 




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

Morning temperatures remain low, but the day will be spring-like warm

On Friday , the lowest temperatures will be between minus 5 and 0°C. In Sofia it will be around minus 3°C. In the morning hours along the riverbanks and around water basins there will be reduced visibility. It will be sunny during..

published on 3/20/25 7:05 PM
Prime Minister Zhelyazkov (left) at a meeting with ECB and Eurogroup Presidents Christine Lagarde (middle) and Paschal Donahue, Brussels, March 20, 2025

PM discusses Bulgaria's eurozone entry with ECB and Eurogroup presidents

The importance of eurozone membership for Bulgaria was the focus of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's meeting with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Eurogroup President Pascal Donahue. On the sidelines of the European Council meeting..

published on 3/20/25 6:07 PM

BNB Governor: Bulgaria meets all nominal criteria for the eurozone

"Currently, Bulgaria is one of the few in the EU that unconditionally meets all nominal criteria for convergence to the eurozone, including the price stability criterion, with which we have had problems in recent years." This was..

published on 3/20/25 3:35 PM