The EU-Western Balkans summit did not set a specific deadline for the region’s countries to join the EU, although the host Slovenia proposed 2030, the Skopje-based electronic publication Expres.mk reported, citing Focus News.
On the other hand, in consolation for the six countries of the Western Balkans, the EU presented an Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) providing for 30 billion Euros in aid over the next seven years.
In comparison, Bulgaria will receive 29 billion euros from the new EU coronavirus recovery instrument and the EU’s long-term budget for the next seven years. In addition, according to EU cohesion policy, Bulgaria will receive more than 9 billion Euros over the next seven years.
This money must be used by the poorer EU countries to reduce economic inequality with the richer members and founders of the Union. The entire European Union will be a guarantor for servicing the Bulgarian debt.
“The blockade imposed on us by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev is harmful to our country,” the Prime Minister of the Republic of Northern Macedonia (RSM), Zoran Zaev, was quoted as saying by Skopje’s Nezavisen Vesnik media.
The Prime Minister of our southwestern neighbor reacted to the speech of the Bulgarian head of state, made yesterday during the EU-Western Balkans forum in the town of Bardo near Kranj (near the Slovenian capital Ljubljana).
“There is no member state of the European Union that has any remarks regarding the reforms that our country is carrying out. We say: we want and can join the bloc. At the same time, however, in Sofia from the highest level hinders our membership in the EU and this is harmful for our country and its citizens, “said Zaev.
“The citizens of the Republic of Northern Macedonia have given me a mandate to solve current problems, not those created in the last century,” the prime minister added.
Zaev stressed once again that the issue of Macedonia’s national identity will not be discussed with other countries. This issue is not subject to negotiations, he confirmed his position, Novini.bg writes.
