North Macedonia’s leaders have, for the first time, not dismissed the possibility of Bulgaria making new demands in its European Union integration process.
Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani stated that Bulgarian politics are so uncertain that the future remains unpredictable.
“Unfortunately, we have often been disappointed because Bulgarian politics are so uncertain that it is unknown what the future will bring. I am very certain that Bulgaria will continue to formulate new demands. But for me, what is on the EU agenda is important, nothing else,” Osmani said in an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on September 28.
North Macedonia is currently in the process of amending its Constitution to include the Bulgarian minority in its preamble as a state-forming people. This is part of an agreement with Sofia, based on the French proposal to unblock the integration process, which was approved by the Macedonian Parliament in July 2022.
Bulgarian officials have consistently presented varying views on their relations with North Macedonia, depending on their positions in Bulgarian politics.
The two countries have not reached an agreement on historical issues, as a joint intergovernmental commission of experts has been discussing the identities and activities of many historical figures, whose identity is claimed by both countries.
“We want to make it very clear to North Macedonia that only when it fulfills the obligations it has committed to, will European integration no longer be a dream,” said Bulgarian Foreign Minister Maria Gabriel during a session of the Bulgarian Parliament on September 1.
Official Sofia has occasionally even threatened North Macedonia’s integration process with Bulgarian clubs in North Macedonia, which have been banned by a Macedonian Parliament law due to their alleged “anti-Macedonian activities”.
In the realm of policy conditioning, Bulgarian MEPs Angel Dzhambazki and Andrey Kovatchev have been quite vocal. Their recent denial of entry into North Macedonia to participate in commemorations for the anniversary of Gotse Delchev, a leader in the Macedonian-Bulgarian resistance against the Ottoman Empire in the early 1900s, highlights the ongoing tensions in the region.
However, the statement made by Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, suggesting that Sofia “could formulate new demands”, has triggered a response from the opposition party VMRO DPMNE. They have been actively blocking the vote on constitutional changes, asserting that “including Bulgarians in the Constitution will not put an end to Bulgarian conditions”.
VMRO DPMNE’s leader, Hristijan Mickoski, clarifies that they do not oppose the inclusion of Bulgarians in the Constitution but rather seek guarantees from the EU that there will be no imposition of new conditions. He anticipates that Bulgaria may raise demands during EU negotiations that could potentially challenge Macedonian identity and language.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski remains resolute in his belief that “constitutional changes are the sole solution for North Macedonia’s European integration to continue”. He accuses VMRO DPMNE of stalling and isolating the country, emphasizing that their actions will not deter the European future of Macedonian citizens.
The constitutional debate concluded on August 18, yet the vote has not occurred due to the failure to secure the necessary two-thirds majority, equivalent to 80 out of 120 votes from deputies.
As per constitutional provisions, if changes are put to a vote and not approved, new alterations cannot be initiated sooner than nine months later. Consequently, Speaker of the Parliament Talat Xhaferi refrains from scheduling a voting session until the required support is guaranteed.
