President of North Macedonia demands cancellation of protocol complicating EU negotiations with Bulgaria

President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska stated that her country's relations with Bulgaria are in as bad a state as if they had been interrupted. Siljanovska, who noted that talks between Bulgaria and Skopje have largely remained within a framework of courtesy, argued that the second protocol should be annulled.

The President described the protocol in question as the biggest obstacle to Skopje's path to European Union membership, emphasizing that this text carries the potential to create new blockades in the future. Siljanovska suggested that the EU could establish new rules to prevent bilateral issues from obstructing negotiations. These statements mean that the North Macedonian administration has effectively abandoned the current EU negotiation framework.

Siljanovska, who affirmed her country's commitment to its reform program and readiness to keep pace with the fastest countries to join the EU, also struck a hopeful tone. Following her recent contacts with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, she stated that she believes dialogue between the two countries can be strengthened and common solutions can be found.