The EU General Affairs Council will hold a meeting on Tuesday to make a decision over holding the first intergovernmental conference with North Macedonia and Albania. However, signals from Sofia are not encouraging, MIA’s Brussels correspondent reports.

Portugal, which is chairing Tuesday’s meeting, is not giving up on a positive decision, according to diplomats in Brussels. Diplomatic contacts between Lisbon and Sofia have intensified in recent weeks, while Portugal has put forward a concrete proposal to both sides, which should serve as a compromise solution for Bulgaria to lift its blockade.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has repeatedly stated he doesn’t want to raise the expectations of citizens, so as to avoid further disappointment.

North Macedonia, as well as Albania, have been waiting for a formal start of negotiations with the EU since 2018. Both countries have now fulfilled all requirements, and a new negotiating methodology has been introduced in the EU, at the request of France.

Scenarios on decoupling North Macedonia and Albania’s EU paths continue to circulate in diplomatic circles in Brussels, although the majority of EU member states and leaders have said they are not in favor of this option.

A vigorous debate is expected today from the European affairs ministers in Luxembourg, where the General Affairs Council is held.

Portugal has the full support of all EU member states for the proposal to overcome the Bulgaria’s blockade.

The Macedonian state leadership has repeatedly guaranteed that language and identity won’t be sacrificed for start of negotiations with the EU.