NNA - Bulgaria approved a mechanism aimed at lifting its veto over the start of North Macedonia’s European Union accession talks to unblock the bloc’s enlargement process amid fears of growing Russian influence in the volatile Balkans.

The move, which still faces major hurdles, is intended to help the 27-nation bloc allay doubts among Balkan countries that the EU is still committed to accepting them as members.

Concerns have grown since the war in Ukraine has prompted EU leaders to advanced a decision to approve that country and neighboring Moldova as membership candidates, even as progress with Balkan countries has bogged down after years of little progress.

Bulgarian lawmakers voted 170-37 on Friday to give outgoing Prime Minister Kiril Petkov’s government a mandate to approve an EU proposal to start negotiations with North Macedonia, with conditions. If those talks are unblocked, the EU may also start deliberations with Albania, another candidate.

One condition is that Bulgaria must receive guarantees that its neighbor will mention Bulgarian nationals in its constitution along with other peoples. The EU should monitor the process, as well as the implementation of a friendship agreement signed in 2017.—Bloomberg 

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