Bulgaria presented, at the EU General Affairs Council, a declaration on the need for the authorities in Skopje to effectively prosecute and condemn hate crimes in North Macedonia. The EU General Affairs Council has accepted the findings of the Bulgarian side, BGNES reports.

The issue is part of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms which are a crucial criterion for furthering the process of accession to the EU, the declaration reads. Bulgaria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova expressed serious concern over the increasing number of hate-motivated attacks against citizens of North Macedonia who identify as Bulgarian.