Brussels, 13 September 2021 (MIA) - Miroslav Lajčák, the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues, said Monday the North Macedonia’s blockade by Bulgaria has a negative impact on neighboring countries, especially Serbia and Kosovo, MIA reports from Brussels. Lajčák and Gabriel Escobar, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, took part at a conference hosted by the European Policy Centre. Asked by MIA on North Macedonia’s blockade for the start of the EU accession negotiations, Lajčák admitted that the situation has negative implications on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and urged for swift settlement of the dispute. “Of course it produces negative consequences on the dialogue. The fact that North Macedonia has not opened the EU accession negotiations has had a negative impact on EU’s credibility in the region. I witnessed this personally during my visits there and this will not improve until North Macedonia and Albania start the accession talks,” said Lajčák. He added that the Union must keep its promises to the partners who did their part, as is the case with North Macedonia. Lajčák also referred to the political crisis in Bulgaria, saying the North Macedonia issue must be solved without a delay once a government is formed in Sofia. He failed to comment on the latest non-paper including proposals for a solution to the Skopje-Sofia row, with some diplomats in Brussels telling MIA this is a form of pressure and an attempt to keep the issue afloat. U.S. official Escobar urged EU members to find a solution so that North Macedonia begins the Union accession talks. “With regards to North Macedonia and Bulgaria, the issue must be resolved immediately in order to allow North Macedonia to continue on the path it worked hard on and achieved results. I agree that the bilateral issue should not hinder the enlargement process and hope that the EU will find a mechanism to solve it,” added Escobar. He also told the EU members that Washington expects some of them to provide more support to the enlargement process, while adding that the Union must be aware the Western Balkans is a region posting the highest economic growth across the continent and an area that the EU needs. Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Viola von Cramon-Taubadel said the Bulgaria-North Macedonia dispute should not be delayed. “The solution between Greece and North Macedonia needed a decade and now we do not have this time at our hands. I call for a solution, we need progress fast, we need to see visits to the countries and proposals even before the elections,” said the MEP. Brussels fears that North Macedonia could be again blocked at the Council Summit in December due to the Bulgarian elections in mid-November. According to EU institutions, a new blockade could have serious consequences for the country and the region.