Germany will continue to make efforts to find a solution for the dispute between Bulgaria and North Macedonia even after the end of its EU Presidency at the end of the year, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
“We’re the last to delay when it comes to this issue. The reality is, the blockade is really a matter of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. While holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, we put in a lot of effort in trying to find a solution. Unfortunately, we were without success,” Maas added.
According to him, Western Balkan countries aspiring to join the EU, especially North Macedonia, have made great progress in the past few years.
“People there see their future in the EU. They have to be able to count on our promises, otherwise they’ll turn their backs to us,” the FM underlined.
Germany’s top diplomat stressed the importance of European prospects for implementation of political and rule of law reforms, which is also in the best interest of the EU.
In the interview on the occasion of the end of Germany’s EU Presidency, Maas also discussed the COVID-19 pandemic, the new EU budget and the Solidarity Fund, Brexit negotiations, rule of law in certain member states, tensions between Greece and Turkey and relations with China.
