Mucunski and Petova-Chамova to meet in Sofia for bilateral talks

North Macedonian Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petova-Chамova in Sofia. The meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the international ministerial conference for Corridor 8, held on October 7 and 8.

This diplomatic initiative follows advice from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to initiate direct ministerial-level talks. The meeting is viewed as a potential step toward unblocking the bilateral disputes that have stalled North Macedonia’s European integration process.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski emphasized that active political dialogue and sincere good neighborly relations are essential for resolving the impasse. The discussions occur amid broader debates in Brussels regarding reforms to the EU enlargement methodology, which could potentially limit the use of veto rights by member states during the negotiation process.