The reports in some media that the Netherlands supported Bulgaria in blocking the Negotiating Framework for the start of accession negotiations of North Macedonia with the EU are completely baseless and fake news, the Embassy of the Netherlands in North Macedonia said on Friday.

“The Netherlands, then and now, is of the opinion that North Macedonia has made good progress and that an first Intergovernmental Conference can take place as soon as the Negotiating Framework is agreed,” Embassy in Skopje said.

“On 30 October 2020 the government of the Netherlands informed the Dutch parliament of its decision that the first Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) for North Macedonia can take place. That position remains, of course, unchanged. The Netherlands, then and now, is of the opinion that North Macedonia has made good progress and that an IGC can take place as soon as the Negotiating Framework is agreed,” Embassy sources said.

Earlier, the Bulgarian newspaper 24 Hours, citing diplomatic sources in Brussels, released a news article claiming that Denmark and the Netherlands were the two countries to support Bulgaria in blocking the start of EU accession talks with North Macedonia.