Sofia, 22 January 2022 (MIA) – The Bulgarian government formed working groups for cooperation with North Macedonia after its government set up similar groups, tasked with intensifying rapprochement and paving the way for settling the countries’ dispute. The move is part of the fresh approach and impetus launched by the countries’ prime ministers, Dimitar Kovachevski and Kiril Petkov. PM Petkov has ordered the formation of four inter-sectorial groups for cooperation with North Macedonia, the Bulgarian Council of Ministers said in a press release. These include an intergovernmental working group for cooperation in economy, trade and innovations; a working group on infrastructure, transport and connectivity; a working group on European cooperation, green transition and digital transformation and rule of law; and a working group on culture, science and education and youth, MIA’s Sofia correspondent reports. The prime ministers announced the formation of five working groups with the fifth tasked with history. However, the two governments didn’t form a separate working group since history is already covered by the joint Macedonian-Bulgarian commission on historical and educational issues, said Kovachevski and Petkov at their joint press conference in Skopje. They fell short of saying whether the commission will keep working in the current format. According to Petkov’s order, the co-chairs of the working groups will rotate in chairing the meetings of the adequate groups according to the topics included in the agenda.