EditEU parliament drops irritant from North Macedonia accession report
EPP-led amendment removes references to Macedonian identity and language from EU report, prompting fury in Skopje
The three largest political groups in the European Parliament – the European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe – have agreed to remove all references to the “Macedonian identity” and the “Macedonian language” from a draft report on North Macedonia’s EU accession progress.
According to Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovatchev (EPP), the amendment was the result of an initiative by the EPP and is expected to be endorsed by a majority in next week’s plenary session in Strasbourg. The debate is scheduled for Tuesday.
“Matters of identity and language have no place in a progress report for a candidate country,” Kovatchev said. “Such topics only serve to divide and open Pandora’s box, something we’ve seen again in this case through the ongoing rhetoric from officials in Skopje, especially Prime Minister [Hristijan] Mickoski, who continues to manipulate historical narratives of a so-called centuries-old identity and language.”
Kovatchev accused the North Macedonian leadership of attempting to stage a symbolic political victory over Bulgaria in the run-up to local elections, in order to justify potential minor constitutional amendments involving the inclusion of ethnic Bulgarians.
“Despite unprecedented lobbying, such precedent must not become part of any European Parliament document,” he said.
He emphasized that instead of framing the debate through political posturing, Skopje should implement the bilateral treaty with Bulgaria and unlock the work of the joint historical commission.
The compromise comes after the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee approved the draft progress report for North Macedonia on 24 June with strong majority support, despite Bulgarian objections. The original version included unqualified references to the “Macedonian language and identity,” and rejected Bulgarian proposals to insert the adjective “modern” ahead of them.
Following the vote, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry stated it would take note of the report but stressed that it carries no legally binding force.
Harsh reaction from Skopje
The developments in the European Parliament were met with sharp criticism in Skopje, as expected.
“It is shameful that an EU member state is attempting to redefine our identity. We have the right to preserve, respect, and build our national identity. It is regrettable that some EU member states are adopting anti-European positions,” said North Macedonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Timčo Mucunski.
Mucunski emphasized that while the country remains committed to reforms and its European path, it will not make compromises on matters of national identity.
“Our progress is increasingly judged not by objective criteria but by bilateral conditions that have nothing to do with European values. We categorically reject any outcome that undermines our identity,” he told reporters following the North Macedonia-Italy business forum in Skopje.
He added that North Macedonia lacks MEPs to directly advocate for its interests in the European Parliament, “unlike neighboring Bulgaria,” which makes the country’s position harder to defend.
Looking ahead to the upcoming vote on the progress report, Mucunski expressed hope that the significance of the process would be fully recognized and that foreign policy would be guided exclusively by national interest.
Waitz’s report goes beyond the identity dispute
The draft resolution based on the report, authored by Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz, goes beyond accession matters to highlight growing regional geopolitical concerns, in particular, Serbia’s aspirations to exert influence over neighboring countries.
One section of the report expresses concern about the “Serbian World” project, which it describes as a campaign not just for economic dominance but also for altering borders in the Western Balkans, involving Republika Srpska, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.
It criticizes North Macedonian officials for backing the initiative and participating in regional meetings that promote spheres of influence threatening the sovereignty of neighboring states.
Another passage calls for the opening of archives from the Yugoslav secret services, UDBA and KOS, preserved in both Serbia and North Macedonia. The draft stresses the importance of confronting the region’s authoritarian past in a transparent way to strengthen democratic accountability.
The report warns that North Macedonia remains vulnerable to hostile foreign influence operations aimed at disrupting its social fabric and promoting anti-European narratives. These efforts, it says, are particularly amplified through Serbian-language tabloids and media networks that serve as regional relays for Kremlin messaging.
It recalls that North Macedonia expelled 13 Russian diplomats between 2018 and 2023 for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status which is a sign of lingering covert influence.
China also features prominently in the draft resolution, which flags concerns about Beijing’s expanding role in the region through control of information channels, coercive loan agreements, and “investment diplomacy.” The report cites Chinese funding for paid content in Macedonian media, often not clearly labeled as such.
A 2023 analysis referenced in the document details how Kremlin-linked entities have used Serbian media proxies to push anti-NATO stories and claim the EU is pressuring North Macedonia to “renounce its identity.”
The resolution concludes with warnings about growing hybrid threats across the Western Balkans, ranging from disinformation and strategic corruption to opaque financial flows and coercive investment practices, especially those linked to Russia and China.
It also highlights the role of Hungary and Serbia in supporting the geopolitical ambitions of both powers, pointing specifically to a loan provided to North Macedonia by Hungary, which reportedly originates from China.
Caption: A view at the Atrium of the main building of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 02 April 2025. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Updated: July 3, 2025 - 12:22
