Bulgaria’s veto on the launch of North Macedonia’s EU accession negotiations is expected to be the main talking point during today’s visit to this country by the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz. He is to arrive from Skopje, where he stated this morning, in talks with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovačevski, that North Macedonia is ready to start negotiations. PM Kovačevski answered that Skopje wanted the bilateral controversies to be settled though it was not clear whether Sofia was ready to do the same. According to Dimitar Kovačevski, the issue has become a matter of political confrontation inside Bulgaria and there is no telling what the outcome may be.  

• Over policy towards North Macedonia and lack of money in the country, ITN party withdraws ministers from cabinet, breaks government coalition
  

This afternoon Olaf Scholz is to meet with Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and with President Rumen Radev.

• President Radev to EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi: Bulgaria expects North Macedonia to implement the Good Neighbour Agreement