Deputy PM for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov said Thursday the discussions on finding a solution for the dispute with Bulgaria and the start of North Macedonia’s EU accession negotiations should continue. Otherwise, both countries and the EU will lose.
“We will either all be losers or winners. Of course, we are the ones to lose the most if negotiations fail to start. But I also believe Bulgaria has a lot to lose, because the opportunity that went by must be restored, in order to foster close partnership and cooperation, which are not compatible with blocking the process through the veto policy. EU will also lose, because it will be very difficult to treat the Union’s words with trust and seriousness, not only here but also throughout the region, Deputy PM Dimitrov told reporters.
According to him, the country should not give up.
“There is commitment on the part of Lisbon and Portugal’s EU Presidency to do everything possible and we should do our utmost to use the opportunities that come by. There will always be problems if we only follow the calendar of elections in member-states,” noted Dimitrov.
He said there were no guarantees that North Macedonia would start negotiations in June.
“Let’s be realistic, there are no guarantees for this. I would not raise hopes too much. My job is to raise the stakes and be as sincere as possible, both at home and abroad,” said Dimitrov.
