On Friday, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry again rejected proposal from Viktor Orban, that is, Hungary, in the capacity of holder of the EU Presidency, for mediation in the Skopje-Sofia process, saying the integration process was founded on own merits and didn’t allow for mediation between the EU and a candidate country.
The only guarantee for success is meeting set criteria conditions, the institution added.
The following day, PM Hristijan Mickoski said Bulgaria wanted to drag its western neighbour into its pre-election period. North Macedonia’s PM also said he was ready for talks, but not for ones with a blackmail and ultimatum.