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

Andrey Kovatchev: The Western Balkan countries must do their homework if they want to join the EU

MEP Andrey Kovatchev
Photo: BGNES-archive

There is no need for a mediator in relations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, MEP Andrey Kovatchev told BNR on the occasion of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's proposal to mediate between Sofia and Skopje.

Regarding the decoupling of North Macedonia and Albania on their ЕU accession path, Andrey Kovatchev said that the main narrative of North Macedonia’s leadership is that the country is being blocked by Sofia, and that “the bad Bulgarians are to blame for everything”.

“Bulgaria has always supported and continues to support the EU integration of all Western Balkan countries, but they must do their homework”, MEP Kovatchev added. "Regarding the Republic of North Macedonia, the main homework is to overcome hatred and the falsification of history, because that is where the discrimination of people who now want to identify as Bulgarians comes from."

Andrey Kovatchev also stated that the negotiating framework for North Macedonia will remain intact.



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