07/04/2022 (Agence Europe) – The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, advocated, on Thursday 7 April in Sofia, for the respect of the promise made by the European Council to open EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. Bulgaria continues to block the opening of negotiations with Skopje, demanding the inclusion in the future negotiating framework of a Neighbourhood Agreement with North Macedonia that includes the issue of Bulgarian minorities. “The topic of protecting minorities is a core value of the EU” and is at the heart of the enlargement process, Ms von der Leyen said, citing Article 2 of the European treaties. She said it was important for the EU to deliver “in our promises towards our neighbours” in these “very turbulent times”, because after the Russian-provoked war in Ukraine, nothing will ever be the same. (MB)