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Radev: Respect for human rights and compliance with the Copenhagen Criteria for EU membership are conditions North Macedonia must meet before starting EU membership talks

The Head of State receives German Chancellor

The relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia are not only about a historical dispute, it is also important to comply with the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership, which include human rights and non-discrimination. Our southwestern neighbour must meet these necessary conditions before it can start EU accession talks. President Rumen Radev expressed this position at his meeting with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Radev insisted that the European Union should be a guarantor of the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM). Clear mechanisms and measurable criteria are needed to monitor the negotiation process, which will lead to sustainability in the fulfilment of the membership criteria by North Macedonia.  The head of State also stressed the importance of preserving the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage in the RNM.
 
The two presidents also exchanged views on topics on the EU agenda, including the diversification of energy supplies, strengthening Europe's security because of the war in Ukraine and the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries.
 
The talks focused on further prospects for bilateral relations in all economic, security and defence spheres. The substantial results achieved in trade and economic relations were noted.  The model we can learn from is much more valuable than the financial dimensions of German investments in our country, President Rumen Radev stressed. The head of State praised the contribution of German companies to the development of industry, machine building, the automotive industry and a number of other spheres of the Bulgarian economy. The President expressed confidence that German investments in Bulgaria would continue to increase in high technologies and innovations, as well as in the construction of a green economy. In terms of bilateral trade, Bulgaria is among the top 20 German trading partners within the EU in 2021. According to official data, trade between Bulgaria and Germany last year reached a record EUR 9.981 billion.

The President also briefed the German Chancellor on the green hydrogen production project in the Maritsa East complex. The EUR 15 billion project, developed in cooperation with the Bulgarian Academy of Science, was presented by Bulgarian business in Hamburg during Radev's visit to Germany last month. The investment envisages the creation of solar facilities for the production of green hydrogen over the next 10 years, part of which will be exported and another part will be used to balance the country's energy grid. Rumen Radev highlighted the opportunities for cooperation between Bulgaria and Germany in this and other similar projects, given the German experience in developing technologies of green hydrogen. In the President's words, the two countries should join efforts in using new technologies and solutions to achieve energy independence.
 
The two concurred that Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area should be based on objective and transparent criteria. The Bulgarian President stressed that despite the requirements met since 2011 this country had not yet been admitted into Schengen. Chancellor Scholz assured Radev that Bulgaria could count on Germany's support to resolve the issue.