Bulgaria says North Macedonia must address historical issues or face delay on EU path

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria has threatened to block North Macedonia's path towards European Union membership and said it should recognise that both its national identity and language have Bulgarian roots, its foreign minister said on Friday.

Ekaretina Zaharieva said Bulgaria, which focused its first period as the EU's rotating presidency in 2018 on the swift accession of western Balkan nations to the 27-member bloc, could veto the formal launch of accession talks with North Macedonia next month unless the two sides can resolve the issue.