Germany will continue to make efforts to find a solution for the dispute between Bulgaria and Macedonia even after the end of its EU Presidency at the end of the year, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in an interview with Deutsche Welle.

We are the last to put the breaks when it comes to this topic. When it comes to the blockade, it is about the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Macedonia. We, as holder of the presidency of the EU Council, have put a lot of effort into trying to reach a solution. Unfortunately, without success, adds Maas.

According to him, the countries of the Western Balkans, aspiring for EU membership, have made huge progress in recent years, especially Macedonia.

People there see their future in the EU. That is why they must be able to rely on our promises, otherwise they will turn their backs, he stressed.

The German Foreign Minister assessed that the European perspective is an important stimulus for political and reforms in the field of rule of law, which are also in the interest of the EU.