"The veto over the Council's conclusions risks undermining trust in the EU and prevents the EU from sending much-needed signals to the Western Balkans in order to stimulate the necessary reforms that countries wishing to join must undertake," the position reads.

Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarifies that the conclusions of the EU Council on Enlargement have nothing to do with the process of approving the negotiating frameworks with Albania and North Macedonia. Bulgaria welcomes the negotiating framework for Albania, and welcomes the additional time provided to improve the framework for North Macedonia.