In a statement with the Bulgarian BTA news agency, the newly appointed Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said that the new groups he wants created with Macedonia will cover culture, infrastructure and the economy, on top of the already existant committee on history, which has been deadlocked for a while. Petkov told the “Financial Times” that he expects that talks on these issues will last at least six months before some progress can be made, and Bulgaria is expected to continue to block Macedonia from opening EU accession talks.
The work groups will be structured in the shortest timeframe possible, hopefully we will have a clear idea at the start of January. We will add culture, infrastructure and economy to the group on history. we need tomake a plan of action and that these groups have realistic results even in early January, Petkov said.
He did not indicate to BTA whether this would eventually lead to Bulgaria lifting its veto against Macedonia. Meanwhile, Petkov will avoid the European Council meeting, and Bulgaria will be represented by President Rumen Radev instead – Radev has been more hardline toward Macedonia than Petkov has indicated he will be.
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