Bulgaria’s new government stated that it would not renegotiate the conditions for North Macedonia’s EU accession, insisting the country must fulfil its commitment to include the Bulgarian minority in its constitution, according to Euractiv.
The stance reaffirms Bulgaria’s position under a 2022 agreement mediated by France, which aimed to unblock North Macedonia’s path to European integration.
Under the agreement, North Macedonia pledged to amend its constitution to recognise the Bulgarian minority, while Bulgaria agreed to lift its veto on Skopje’s EU accession talks. However, the election of a government in North Macedonia, led by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, cast doubt on the implementation of the deal.
Stalled process
Mickoski’s VMRO-DPMNE party came to power in early 2024 with a strong anti-Bulgarian rhetoric, vowing not to make concessions on the constitutional changes. Despite that, Mickoski expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with Bulgaria.
We need to build good neighbourly relations, but this does not mean that we agree on some topics that divide us.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, however, dismissed the possibility of renegotiation, emphasising that the constitutional changes were not a bilateral issue but a condition set by the EU.
There is no bilateral problem between Sofia and Skopje, but between Brussels and North Macedonia.
The inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in North Macedonia’s constitution is seen as a crucial step towards fostering regional stability and advancing EU integration in the Western Balkans. Bulgaria has reiterated its commitment to the French proposal, which outlines the terms of the agreement, and insists that Skopje must adhere to its obligations.
VMRO-DPMNE proposed delaying the constitutional changes until after North Macedonia joins the EU, arguing that this would prevent Bulgaria from imposing further vetoes. However, Sofia rejected the approach, maintaining that the changes must be implemented as a precondition for accession talks.
The dispute highlights the complexities of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, where historical grievances and nationalistic politics often hinder progress. As Bulgaria and North Macedonia remain at an impasse, the broader goal of regional integration risks being delayed, with potential repercussions for other aspiring EU members in the area.
