Skopje, 2 March 2023 (MIA) - The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia and Bulgaria held Wednesday in Sofia consular consultations at the level of heads of consular affairs, discussing a number of consular issues that directly affect the countries' citizens.

Specific attention was paid to the ways for improvement of mutual communication regarding changes in legislation related to the entry and stay at the territory of each country and its implementation, communication on detained citizens, cooperation in consular cases, especially when they involve medical treatment or repatriation, manner and procedure for issuance of registry documents, setting up a point for direct communication in urgent cases and other matters in the field. Both sides expressed satisfaction from prior cooperation in the field and shared information on the challenges they are facing, while exchanging proposals for enhancement of cooperation, the MFA said in a press release.

North Macedonia-Bulgaria consular cooperation is based on the 1999 bilateral consular convention. The latest consultations took place at the initiative of North Macedonia's MFA, the first of its type in the past decade.