Sofia, 3 January 2022 (MIA) – Republic of North Macedonia’s accession to the European Union is a Bulgarian national interest, a path on which the next step is start of talks with Skopje. The opening of negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia should be an important objective for the Bulgarian diplomacy, said Minister of Innovation and Growth Daniel Lorer, MIA reports from Sofia. Lorer told the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) it is in Bulgaria’s interest to turn into an exceptionally wealthy and socially just country that is surrounded by similar neighbors. He added the neighbors’ road to wealth and social justice goes through the EU membership. “A continued and positive dialogue with the Macedonian side will result in fulfilled criteria, not only historic, but also economic, academic, cultural. This needs to happen so that each side feels more certain in his dialogue,” said Lorer. On the statement of ITN leader Slavi Trifonov that North Macedonia should be allowed accession in the European Union if the United States cancelled visas for Bulgarian citizens and the country joined the Schengen zone, Lorer said it linked a bilateral dispute with the EU and U.S.