The integration of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) into the EU must be a sustainable and irreversible process built on tangible results in meeting the membership criteria. This is what President Rumen Radev said in a telephone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel.

The head of State stressed that the fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership, the provision of constitutional guarantees for the respect of the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians by the RNM, the eradication of hate speech against Bulgaria and Bulgarians and the preservation of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage in our south-western neighbour are necessary steps on its path towards a united Europe.

Bulgaria is open to dialogue and expects concrete results, which cannot be reported in the remaining days until this month's European Council meeting, the President further said. Radev praised the growing understanding of Bulgaria's position within the European Union and highlighted the need for the elaboration of clear mechanisms and measurable criteria that would take into account the real progress of our south-western neighbour in the European integration process and uphold the democratic norms and principles of the EU.

The President held another call on the European perspective of the Republic of North Macedonia with the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg.