Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced from Brussels that Bulgaria may object to the opening of EU accession talks with Macedonia. Bulgaria signed the call from 12 EU member states to open accession talks this summer, but now Borisov says that Macedonia needs to “mature” more on the issue of the national origin of legendary VMRO leader Goce Delcev.

Don’t get me wrong, but so long as it is being disputed whether Goce Delcev was Bulgarian or a Macedonian, this sale of heroes who in reality fought for Bulgaria and for Macedonia, for their homeland, our most beautiful songs are sang for them… Until we are discussing this, my opposition keeps asking me what is the historic commission doing. Let them mature. I can’t allow that. Bulgaria did everything it could and they soared to the heavens, but now they have to make compromises in the commission and with regard to anti-Bulgarian rhetoric, Borisov told the press in Brussels where European leaders are meeting to discuss the draft conclusions which postpone a decision for the opening of accession talks for October.

Bulgarian historians in the joint committee set up under the Borisov – Zaev treaty of 2017 are asking their Macedonian colleagues to acknowledge the Bulgarian origin of Goce Delcev and to set up a date when he will be jointly celebrated. Macedonian historians propsoed the date in 1946, when Bulgaria returned Delcev’s body to be interred in Skopje, as the capital of Macedonia, but this is now seen as an insult by Bulgarians.