EditBulgarian MEPs condemn arson attack on embassy vehicles in Skopje amid tense EU resolution vote
Their letter occurs just days before the European Parliament is expected to vote on the 2025 Commission report on North Macedonia
All Bulgarian пembers of the European Parliament have issued a strongly worded joint letter condemning the arson attack on two diplomatic vehicles parked in front of the Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje on 15 June 2026. The incident comes as the European Parliament prepares to vote on a new resolution on North Macedonia, including a controversial amendment that could weaken language on resolving historical disputes with Bulgaria.
The letter, signed by every Bulgarian MEP across political groups, describes the arson as “a vile attack” motivated by hatred that endangered the lives of embassy staff and their families. It stresses that the act violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and questions the North Macedonian authorities’ ability to protect foreign diplomatic missions.
Arson attack on Bulgarian embassy cars in Skopje fuels diplomatic tensions
“This is not a mere criminal act, but an unacceptable attack on a diplomatic mission,” the MEPs write. They link the violence to a broader pattern of anti-Bulgarian rhetoric, hate speech, and insufficient institutional response in North Macedonia.
The Bulgarian MEPs recall several high-profile cases, including the near-fatal beating of Hristiyan Pendikov for expressing his Bulgarian identity, the prevention of Iva Mihaylova from travelling to Bulgaria for medical treatment, and suspended sentences against individuals for expressing Bulgarian views. They also reference previous attacks on Bulgarian cultural clubs in Bitola and Ohrid, as well as stone-throwing incidents against the embassy itself.
While welcoming the swift apprehension of a suspect and the condemnation by Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski, the MEPs call on North Macedonia’s parliament, president, and prime minister to issue unequivocal condemnations and ensure full accountability.
Amendment 73 and historical issues
The attack occurs just days before the European Parliament is expected to vote on the 2025 Commission report on North Macedonia. A key point of contention is Amendment 73, tabled by MEPs Nikola Minchev (Renew), Andrey Kovachev and Andrey Novakov (EPP) and Ivaylo Valchev (ECR).
Rapporteur Thomas Waitz of the Greens/EFA Group pushes for deleting Paragraph 73 of the motion for a resolution.
The proposed amendment strongly urges the Joint Multidisciplinary Expert Commission on Historical and Educational Issues (established under the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness and Cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia) to deliver clear results, and emphasises that historical texts should reflect objective, evidence-based interpretations of the common history of both peoples.
The work of this Expert Commission has come to a standstill since the government of Hristijan Mickoski took over. Mickoski’s party, VMRO-DPMNE is pursuing a nationalist policy aligned with Belgrade which doesn’t want to see more countries from the former Yugoslavia progressing toward EU membership.
By pushing to delete this paragraph, the amendment would remove explicit European Parliament pressure on Skopje to advance the resolution of historical disputes with Bulgaria – a core condition for progress in North Macedonia’s EU accession talks.
Pattern of incidents
This is not the first time Bulgarian diplomatic and cultural presence in North Macedonia has come under attack. EUalive previously reported on several such incidents that have heightened diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours.
Bulgarian MEPs argue that such acts occur in a climate of impunity created by years of tolerated hate speech and weak institutional responses. They warn that failure to address these issues undermines the rule of law and good-neighbourly relations – fundamental requirements for EU candidate countries.
Broader implications for EU accession
The timing of the attack and the parliamentary debate is particularly sensitive. North Macedonia’s EU path has been made conditional: the July 2022 Council Conclusions – reached under French Presidency – constitute the comprehensive roadmap for the country’s accession. Both the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the 2017 Treaty with Bulgaria, including its annual Protocols under Article 12, are explicitly incorporated into the Negotiating Framework adopted on 18 July 2022 and operational since the first Intergovernmental Conference the following day.
The Second Protocol, signed in Sofia on 17 July 2022 during the second meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission, contains concrete, mutual commitments: construction of cross-border rail links and Corridor VIII infrastructure; enhanced sectoral cooperation in economy, culture and mobility; protection of the rights of persons identifying as Bulgarian in North Macedonia in line with Copenhagen criteria; mechanisms to combat hate speech; opening of Yugoslav-era security archives; and continued work of the Joint Multidisciplinary Expert Commission on historical and educational issues.
The Bulgarian MEPs stress that European integration is not only a political goal but also a responsibility. They expect Skopje to demonstrate concrete commitment to protecting minorities, combating hate speech, and honouring bilateral agreements.
As the European Parliament prepares to vote, Amendment 73 has become symbolic: whether the EU continues to insist on genuine reconciliation between Skopje and Sofia or softens its stance on historical issues.
Update
Following the publication of this article the push to delete the text concerning the Joint Multidisciplinary Expert Commission on Historical and Educational Issues failed, as it was backed by 126 MEPSs only. Against its deletion voted 388 MEPs, with 188 MEPs abstaining.
The adopted resolution warns North Macedonia about the threat from the “Serbian World”, stresses that the inclusion of Bulgarians in the Constitution is a prerequisite for opening accession talks, and called on Skopje to open the archives of the Yugoslav secret services UDBA and KOS.
Caption: Bulgarian MEP Nikola Minchev (Renew) takes the floor during the EP Plenary session – An EU future for the Western Balkans – 16 June 2026 [European Parliament Multimedia Centre]
Updated: June 17, 2026 - 14:45
