"We will continue to support the efforts of the six partner countries (Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania) on their path to the EU, but they must also take their responsibility and follow the reform process." This was stated by Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva at a press conference after a video conference meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani.

The talks, part of the joint presidency of the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans, were preparatory for the Berlin Process summit tomorrow, BNR reports. Zaharieva reaffirmed Bulgaria's position that Bulgaria and North Macedonia should resolve the still open issues and that North Macedonia should stop using hate speech.

"Bulgaria's interests in relation to North Macedonia must be protected in order for the European integration process to continue and the European Council cannot resolve bilateral issues." Heiko Maas, the German Foreign Minister who holds the presidency of the EU Council and took part in the meeting said.

On Friday, Bulgaria informed the European Commission that it was unable to support the negotiating framework for North Macedonia, as it did not guarantee the protection of Bulgaria's interests. At the heart of Bulgaria's position on Skopje's EU membership talks is the request for implementation of the Treaty and the framework position of the parliament from 2019. Bulgaria insists that Skopje discontinue its claims for recognition of the so-called "Macedonian minority" in Bulgaria and to use the phrase "official language of the Republic of North Macedonia", which can not be considered as a recognition by the Bulgarian side of the existence of the so-called "Macedonian language".