Sofia, 6 December 2021 (MIA) – North Macedonia and Albania have achieved a lot in the field of reforms and Brussels supports their efforts but the delay in their Euro-integration affects EU’s credibility, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi told the Sofia Forum for the Western Balkans titled “Time to Rebuild Trust” on Monday, MIA reports from Sofia. Commissioner Varhelyi said Bulgaria and North Macedonia must solve open issues so that accession talks with Skopje and Tirana begin soon. “Sixty-five percent of the Western Balkans economy is linked to the EU, which demonstrates their logical orientation,” said Varhelyi in the online remarks, while adding that the region is surrounded by EU members. According to him, countries of the Western Balkans should not be treated as candidates but Union members, with Brussels set to invest EUR 30 billion in the area in 2022. Vlado Buchkovski, the Government’s special representative for the Bulgaria dispute, told the Sofia forum a lot has been done in various fields, such as media, highlighting the cooperation between the countries’ news agencies MIA and BTA. Buchkovski said North Macedonia has no territorial aspirations towards Bulgaria, an aspect that would be reaffirmed through a diplomatic note, whereas Skopje has no intention to interfere in Sofia’s domestic affairs. He added that a train is set to connect the countries’ capitals in six years, with EUR 200 million invested in the line. Former Bulgarian foreign minister Solomon Passy urged both countries to reach a swift, good and permanent solution to the dispute, noting Morocco and Israel as an example, which have signed a military cooperation agreement, a feat that was unthinkable only a year ago. Member of European Parliament Ilhan Kyuchyuk, who hosted the forum, said the discussion on history is important but the discussion about the future is no less important, while recalling on the fragility of peace in different parts of the Western Balkans, such as Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue. “It should be in Bulgaria’s strategic interest for North Macedonia to join the EU,” said Kyuchyuk. The forum brought together former Bulgarian ministers, lawmakers, ambassadors and NGO representatives.