“Passive Diplomacy” Cost Bulgaria Its Leading Role in Western Balkans EU Talks - Novinite. com - EUROPE SAYS
Bulgaria has lost its earlier position as a leading voice in shaping the EU’s approach to enlargement in the Western Balkans, according to Maria Simeonova, director of the Sofia office of the European Council. . .
Bulgaria has lost its earlier position as a leading voice in shaping the EU’s approach to enlargement in the Western Balkans, according to Maria Simeonova, director of the Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Speaking to Bulgarian National Radio, she argued that the country was once in a stronger diplomatic position but has since weakened its influence following tensions related to North Macedonia. She said Bulgaria’s approach has shifted away from active engagement toward a more passive stance in European policy debates. “Bulgaria was that country in 2018. This changed with the veto on North Macedonia. No matter how reasonable it sounds to us, Bulgarian diplomacy must be accompanied by public diplomacy and constant engagement, and not locking into a comfortable foreign policy position,” Simeonova said, adding that other EU member states have remained more consistently active in defending their positions. She noted that while Bulgaria’s concerns regarding Skopje may be understandable domestically, they should not define the country’s entire EU enlargement strategy. In her view, Sofia still has the capacity to build stronger ties with other Western Balkan partners, including Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. Simeonova said Bulgaria needs a more assertive and visible diplomatic presence in the region, but warned that rebuilding its reputation in Brussels would take time due to the long-term impact of its dispute with North Macedonia. “Our positioning needs to be bolder – this is expected of us as a member state from this region. Bulgaria has the capacity and this is expected of it. But it will take time to restore its image as a country that supports the Western Balkans,” she said, adding that progress in EU accession talks with several countries shows renewed momentum. She pointed to Montenegro as the most advanced candidate, citing both technical readiness and political commitment, with discussions even mentioning possible membership timelines around 2028. Albania is also advancing, though facing additional internal challenges, with a target closer to 2030. Simeonova said the broader enlargement process, including Ukraine’s potential future accession, remains complex but increasingly relevant in the context of Russia’s war and geopolitical pressures on the EU. She also stressed that European unity must be maintained in the face of external influence campaigns, which she said target multiple sectors of public life. “Europe must show symbolic actions that it is united. Russia uses different spheres of public life to influence political, social, public processes in European countries,” she said, pointing to religion, culture, and language as tools of hybrid influence. Commenting on Bulgaria’s position within the EU, she said the country is unlikely to adopt a blocking role similar to Hungary, but warned that inconsistent messaging could still damage its credibility. She added that domestic political calculations must be carefully balanced with broader European commitments, cautioning that unclear or contradictory positions risk undermining Bulgaria’s standing in EU decision-making. Source: BNR interview