EditSofia reassures Skopje: No new conditions beyond constitutional changes
Bulgaria reiterates support for North Macedonia’s EU path, urges balanced rhetoric as tensions persist
Bulgaria has officially reassured North Macedonia that it will not set any new conditions for the country’s EU accession beyond the constitutional amendments required to include the Bulgarian minority.
On Wednesday, Bulgarian foreign minister Georg Georgiev informed his North Macedonian counterpart, Timčo Mucunski, of a parliamentary decision adopted in Sofia on 30 May. The resolution, initiated by the populist ITN party – currently part of the governing coalition – reaffirms Bulgaria’s position that “any attempts within the frameworks and institutions of the EU to renegotiate, circumvent or ignore elements of the agreed arrangements are unacceptable”.
Bulgarian parliament to reject any ‘plan B’ for North Macedonia
The Bulgarian parliament expressed concern about what it described as “ongoing institutional pressure and disregard for the rights of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia, including politically motivated court proceedings, physical aggression, and hate speech”.
Deadlock on the French proposal
In 2022, Bulgaria and North Macedonia reached a deal brokered by the French EU Presidency. Under the agreement, Bulgaria lifted its veto on Skopje’s EU path in exchange for constitutional amendments, which became a requirement at EU level for starting accession talks. However, the implementation has stalled due to opposition from VMRO-DPMNE, now leading the government in Skopje.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has repeatedly argued that Bulgaria might introduce new demands after the constitutional changes, thus justifying his refusal to proceed with the amendment.
Responding to these claims, foreign minister Georgiev emphasized that “Bulgaria has no conditions beyond the elements of the European consensus, and this is a clear signal of our constructive approach”.
Diplomatic messaging intensifies
Deputy Foreign Minister Elena Shekerletova also met with North Macedonia’s Ambassador to Sofia, Agneza Rusi Popovska, to brief her in detail on the 30 May parliamentary decision. She underlined that the resolution reflects broad national consensus and Bulgaria’s consistent support for the European integration of the Western Balkans.
Shekerletova expressed hope that Bulgaria’s position, especially its commitment to not introduce additional demands – will be “objectively acknowledged and clearly communicated to the public by North Macedonia’s political leadership”.
Enlargement at risk of bilateral gridlock
Against this backdrop, the European Commission has called for streamlining accession procedures to prevent bilateral disputes from derailing the process. While Brussels is prepared to mediate between Sofia and Skopje, prospects for a breakthrough remain dim.
Bulgaria insists that the conditions are embedded in the EU’s negotiation framework and that the constitutional changes are not a bilateral issue but a European requirement.
Last week, the European Parliament postponed the vote on North Macedonia’s progress report amid objections from Bulgarian MEPs. They criticised parts in the report recognizing the existence of a Macedonian identity and language and accused rapporteur Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA) of bias and cozying up with Skopje.
Waitz, in turn, claimed he was targeted for refusing to yield to Bulgarian pressure.
Meanwhile, Mickoski described the so-called French compromise as “a knife in the lungs of Macedonian identity”, and blamed former foreign minister Bujar Osmani for accepting it. He asserted, quoted by BGNES, that “we are gaining sympathy and more international support. Our arguments are gaining strength”.
Mickoski also lamented that one NATO ally is pressuring another and said he would raise the matter with European Council President António Costa during the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague.
Caption: The Bulgarian foreign minister Georg Georgiev and his French colleague Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris, on 3 June 2025. [Handout photo EPA/EFE]
Updated: June 12, 2025 - 03:20
