Led by North Macedonia’s main opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, thousands gathered in Skopje over the weekend to protest against France’s latest proposal on the preconditions for European Union (EU) accession talks, after the Balkan nation’s application was vetoed by Bulgaria over disputes related to identity, language, history, and culture.
In a press conference at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Madrid last week, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that “I think we have found a compromise solution” between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, which would include integrating Bulgarian minority rights in Skopje’s Constitution.
Seizing this opportunity is in the paramount strategic interest of both the #EU and North Macedonia. Now is the time to move forward. 2/2
— Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) June 30, 2022
North Macedonian Prime Minister (PM) Dimitar Kovačevski confirmed the agreement, saying, “This proposal, whose preparation takes into account our positions and demands, will be put through a broad consultation process,” adding that the compromise “is considered a solid basis for building a serious, responsible and ambitious position regarding the opportunity being opened for our country.” NO details on the agreement have been made public, however.
As per a senior official in North Macedonia, the offer could be given the go-ahead without the parliament’s support. However, the French proposition also conditions making changes to Skopje’s constitution before starting the EU discussions, which would need two-thirds approval in the parliament.
Calling it a “shame,” North Macedonian opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski rejected the French proposal, saying it meant the “assimilation of the Macedonian people.” “We do not need Europe if we have to be assimilated,” he asserted, adding, “If Europe is not ready to accept us civilised Macedonians where we belong, then we will wait until there are people who will understand that Macedonia and Macedonian identity is above and before all.”
Good phone call with PM @DKovachevski
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 1, 2022
Welcome news that 🇲🇰 and 🇧🇬, with support of France, are close to an agreement which takes into account interests & concerns.@EU_Commission is ready to start the screening process for 🇲🇰 and 🇦🇱, the next step on their European path.
Former North Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov also registered his opposition concerning the agreement, noting that it required constitutional amendments before the EU consultations are initiated.
However, PM Kovačevski promised, “The decision on our future will be taken jointly, in accordance with the strategic interests of the country and all citizens.” Furthermore, incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani insisted that the proposal should be accepted at the earliest for the EU discussions to begin.
Today, we presented the modified French proposal in front of the coalition partners @VladaMK, thus starting the comprehensive consultation process which paves the way for our #EU accession process.
— Bujar Osmani (@Bujar_O) July 1, 2022
Latter we move forward w/ other institutions & the overall public pic.twitter.com/U3iW8377yq
EU membership requires the unanimous approval of all 27 member states. Bulgaria has opposed North Macedonia’s accession since 2020. However, in early June, Bulgarian PM Kiril Petkov promised to rescind the veto if North Macedonia met the following three conditions. “First: compliance with the framework position adopted by the Bulgarian parliament. Second: the inclusion of Bulgarians in the constitution of North Macedonia, so that their rights can be protected. Third, to implement the Neighbourhood Agreement,” Petkov stated, adding, “We are now working together to see if it is possible for the EU to be a guarantor of the fulfilment of the three conditions.”
Petkov’s reconciliatory approach toward North Macedonia created turmoil within his own ruling coalition, as the anti-establishment ITN party quit the alliance, leading to the collapse of its cabinet. Nevertheless, with the support of the conservative opposition GERB party and the Turkish minority opposition MRF party, the Bulgarian parliament voted in favour of revoking the veto for Skopje’s EU membership talks with 170 votes in favour, 37 against, and 21 abstaining.
During the debate, the co-chairman of the right-wing Democratic Bulgaria party, Hristo Ivanov, who had proposed the motion, mentioned that it would be in the country’s interests for the Western Balkans “to receive a perspective to join the EU.” Nevertheless, the nationalist Vazrazhdane party and the ITN party voted against the resolution, while the Socialist BSP party abstained.
Germany vows to push for faster integration for the western Balkans into the EU
— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) July 1, 2022
The stagnant progress of Albania and North Macedonia's EU bids, which was linked to Bulgarian obstructionist, has created discord in Tirana and Skopje towards the EU
While approving the decision, the Bulgarian lawmakers vowed that Bulgarians in North Macedonia should be treated “on an equal footing with other peoples” and that Skopje should “effectively implement” the 2017 treaty of friendliness and cooperation that would stop hate speech against Sofia. The parliament also asserted that “nothing in the EU accession process of North Macedonia can be interpreted as recognition by Bulgaria of the existence of a ‘Macedonian language’,” which is considered to be a Bulgarian dialect by Sofia.
North Macedonian PM Dimitar Kovačevski has stated his opposition to Bulgaria’s three preconditions, describing Sofia’s offer as “unacceptable… in its current form.” Citing the lack of progress for Skopje’s EU accession, especially since North Macedonia has been a membership candidate for 17 years, he told reporters following the EU-Balkans summit late last month: “What has happened is a serious blow to the credibility (of) the European Union.”
It is unclear if the compromise reached with France meets any of Bulgaria’s requirements.
Propozimi i fundit francez, i cili është edhe përfundimtari,i jep Maqedonisë së Veriut mundësinë e një pranimi pa rezervë dhe hap rrugën e nisjes zyrtare të negociatave për anëtarësimin e të dy vendeve në Bashkimin Europian! Vëllezërve maqedonas&shqiptarë në MV u them: Pranojeni! pic.twitter.com/0bDtV99xTW
— Edi Rama (@ediramaal) June 30, 2022
Bulgaria’s veto of North Macedonia’s EU application has also obstructed Albania’s bid, as the two have a joint bid. In fact, Albanian PM Edi Rama had even considered not attending the EU-Balkans meeting last month. “It’s a disgrace that a NATO country, Bulgaria, kidnaps two other NATO countries, namely Albania and North Macedonia, in the midst of a hot war in Europe’s backyard with 26 other EU countries sitting still in a scary show of impotence,” he told the media, in reference to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
In April, Rama had warned that if the dispute between Bulgaria and North Macedonia wasn’t resolved soon, Tirana would separate its membership bid from Skopje’s. To this end, EU diplomats divulged that if the French proposal doesn’t work, it could “decouple” North Macedonia and Albania’s membership applications to ensure that Tirana’s discussions could move forward.