Sofia, 24 June 2022 (MIA) – Bulgaria is becoming a problematic country that hinders the development processes of the EU. We have no place among those that hinder, but we have a place in the development space – to set an agenda, to impose different views that will make the EU much more effective, and in the Bulgarian national interest. One of the topics that were to be led by Bulgaria was related to the EU enlargement and North Macedonia and Albania should be part of it, Bulgarian MEP and European Parliament's Rapporteur for North Macedonia, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, said in an interview with BNR. He stressed that he was against the idea of decoupling North Macedonia and Albania on the European path. According to him, it would further complicate Bulgaria’s international image. Kyuchyuk said the proposal of the French EU Presidency was the best one for Bulgaria so far. “Whether it will be adopted by Sofia and Skopje is a different question… It was a definite mistake to drop the issue like a hot potato in the National Assembly. Bulgaria’s position needs to be set by the Council of Ministers. According to the Constitution, the Council of Ministers is responsible for the foreign policy, not the Parliament,” said Kyuchyuk. According to him, if Bulgaria adopts a position on the proposal on North Macedonia, political pressure will no longer be on Bulgaria, but other mechanisms will be sought to impose one or another proposal. “Bulgaria will have a position, because we cannot fail to have a common position on this issue for two years. It will be very disrespectful to the EU if our country fails to come out with a clear position on this issue. The proposal has solid guarantees on resolving difficult issues of the past and on the open sensitive issues, as well as on the rights of the Bulgarians – they will implement their guarantees in a European way,” Kyuchyuk said.