Position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
24 June 2025 News
In response to media inquiries regarding the draft Report of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) on the progress of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria states the following:
The Ministry takes note of the content of the draft report, including the assessments and findings concerning the state of RNM’s European integration.
We welcome AFET’s determination not to allow itself to be drawn into speculative nationalist narratives, particularly those related to claims of a “centuries-old Macedonian identity”, which run counter to European values of inclusion and offend the sentiments of both Bulgarians and representatives of other communities in RNM.
Bulgaria has consistently maintained that it does not object to modern, contemporary perceptions of identity – whether individual or collective – as this is a matter of personal choice. Regrettably, the authorities in Skopje often manipulate this principled position, using it as a pretext for failing to fulfil their commitments. This is one of the reasons behind the delays in RNM’s European integration process.
Our concerns regarding RNM’s policies relate primarily to two key issues:
1. Ensuring the right of self-identification for Bulgarians in RNM, free from fear of persecution and discrimination;
2. Preventing provocations towards millions of Bulgarian citizens – citizens of the European Union – many of whom are descendants of Bulgarians from the geographical region of Macedonia.
Bulgaria remains committed to all elements of the European consensus of 2022, the implementation of which is the only viable path tow ards European integration for our southwestern neighbour. This position has been unequivocally reaffirmed by the decisions of the National Assembly in June 2022 and May 2025.