European integration requires lasting and irreversible results in building good neighborly relations, Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev pointed out at a meeting with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Prime Minister of Portugal António Luís Santos da Costa, held in Brussels. Starting EU accession talks with North Macedonia was central to the talks.

"Progress should be based on respect for human rights and full compliance with the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership. Bulgaria’s caretaker government is ready to engage in an active dialogue with Skopje in this direction. Any possible solution will be carefully analyzed and matched with the declaration adopted by the Bulgarian National Assembly on the matter", noted Bulgaria’s head of state Radev.