Thirteen members of the US Congress signed a letter asking Bulgaria to “put differences aside” and “support the integration of Albania and North Macedonia” into the European Union.
In a letter sent to the Bulgarian Ambassador to the US, Tihomir Stoychev, the House Representatives who are also members of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, note that Bulgaria needs to solve the dispute with North Macedonia as soon as possible, as it is also affecting Albania’s accession bid.
Today my colleagues and I sent a letter to the Bulgarian Ambassador to the US, Tihomir Stoytchev, urging #Bulgaria to find a resolution to the dispute that is preventing #NorthMacedonia and #Albania from starting #EU accession talks. Read our letter: @EmbassyBGinUSA @EUintheUS pic.twitter.com/uIOTBeXTWz
— Congressman Bill Keating (@USRepKeating) November 18, 2021
In addition, they fear that growing discontent and skepticism in the region about ever joining the bloc “opens a door for anti-Western political influences, particularly those from China and Russia”.
On Thursday, Daniel Lohrer, a member of the We Continue the Change (PP), set to form the new executive noted that the chances of reaching a deal with Skopje by December are low.
“The only road, not only of North Macedonia, but that of Albania and the other countries in the region, is joining the EU, and Bulgaria would want that, but when North Macedonia enters that process, it should happen without infringing the rights of the Bulgarian people living in North Macedonia,” said Lohrer, also a potential candidate for the foreign minister’s post.
Differences over the Macedonian language, identity, and historical past, as well as the rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia, are among issues that need to be resolved in order for Sofia to lift its veto on Skopje.
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