EU official urges North Macedonia to push reforms for EU membership, amid Bulgaria's veto.

The EU's top foreign policy official, Kaja Kallas, pressed North Macedonia to enact "era-defining" domestic reforms to advance its EU membership bid. During her visit to Skopje, Kallas emphasized the EU's support but stressed that Bulgaria's veto, tied to the recognition of a Bulgarian minority, must be resolved. North Macedonia and Albania began EU membership talks in 2022, but progress is dependent on overcoming significant hurdles.