Sofia, 23 January 2025 (MIA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, at a meeting with European Council President António Costa, expressed support for EU enlargement, highlighting the principle of own merits, i.e. fulfilled obligations, BTA reports.  

Zhelyazkov said he and Costa talked about important topics on the EU's agenda.

"Regarding the Union's enlargement, we confirmed our position related to the Western Balkan countries: we uphold the principle of own merits," the Bulgarian PM said.

In addition, in a phone call with the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues, Miroslav Lajčák, Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev expressed hope that "in the near future the state leadership of the Republic of North Macedonia will show political will to implement the 2022 European Consensus, thus opening the way for the country to negotiate full EU membership". 

Radev and Lajčák discussed aspects of the European integration process of the countries in the region. They noted the priority importance the European Commission attaches to the issue of EU enlargement, which enables the Western Balkans to make progress in fulfilling the membership criteria, Radev's Office said in a press release. 

The Bulgarian President expressed gratitude for the efforts made by Lajčák for the European integration of the Western Balkans, underlining his objective assessment of the various problems in the region and constructive approach to their resolution. 

Photo: European Council / MIA archive