Brussels, 5 September 2025 (MIA) - It is reasonable to guarantee to North Macedonia that we won’t ask the country to do more later, after it delivers what we expect it to deliver now, said European Council President Antonio Costa on Friday, after a meeting with Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.

“North Macedonia is waiting for a long time on this process. I understand their frustration. They have already changed the Constitution once, they changed the flag, they have even changed the name of the country, and they naturally expect that we could concretize this accession process. But, what is approved is approved, what is agreed is agreed, and they need to deliver,” Costa said.

The President of the European Council said he is personally engaged and talking with the governments in Sofia and Skopje, adding that he expects talks to continue and progress to be made after the electoral period in the country.

“But at the same time, it’s very important to build trust. To ensure North Macedonia that what we are asking now is not just what we are asking now and then ask more after, it’s reasonable. It is important to build trust, and that’s one of the reasons I’m inviting both governments to start working in concrete issues that would improve the connectivity in both countries, would improve the conditions, the competitiveness in both economies, to connect both peoples,” Costa said.

According to Costa, the EU accession process is very demanding and difficult, requiring the implementation of reforms, but the most important thing, he said, is to change the mindset. 

“The most important thing for the region is the decision that only the region can take to overcome the conflicts from the past and focus on the shared future. And this is the most important thing. And when we doubt if it’s possible, you should always remember how the European Union was born. Our Union was born in the ashes of World War Two when countries like France and Germany after three dramatic wars decided to say it’s finished, we will overcome our past conflicts and now it’s time to work together to build a shared future,” Costa said.

Costa stressed that the region must follow that example and move forward to open a new chapter of prosperity and peaceful future for all.

Bulgarian PM Zhelyazkov stressed that Bulgaria, through a decision of its Parliament, has affirmed it won’t set any other demands for the country.

"We hope that the language of hatred will stop, the rights of the Bulgarian minority will be respected and the commitment for it to be inscribed in North Macedonia’s Constitution will be honored as this is a precondition for continuing on the path to full membership in the European Union,” Zhelyazkov said.

MIA file photo