The Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, held a joint conference with Edi Rama and Aleksandar Vucic after the EU Summit for the Western Balkans.

He said that even at this summit, the EU did not take a decision to open negotiations with Northern Macedonia and Albania.

Kovacevski expressed his disappointment with Bulgaria's decision not to lift the veto, while emphasizing that "a single country has blocked the entire EU", writes Telegrafi Makedonija.

"We have been a candidate country for EU membership for many years now, and what is happening now is a real blow to the credibility of the EU.

We can not allow one country to block Northern Macedonia and Albania for EU membership.

We can not allow bilateral issues to become multilateral.

Bulgaria decided to go back in time and not lift its veto, which does not help anyone.

So far we have done a lot, we have worked on many reforms.

"It's time for the EU to keep its word."

"I thank President Macron for his commitment and confirm that whatever the proposal may be, it must guarantee our Macedonian identity.

If during the French presidency agreement is reached on our demands, we are ready to negotiate.

We have national and state interests in the foreground.

"No one can impose solutions on us," Kovacevski said, among other things.

He also spoke about the "Open Balkans" initiative, while emphasizing that this initiative is not a replacement for the EU, but for the Europeanization of the three countries.