On Tuesday, Rosen Zhelyazkov, the Chairman of the Bulgarian Parliament, underscored during a visit to Skopje that North Macedonia’s path to European Union membership is the “sole route”, emphasizing the need for the country to enact necessary constitutional changes to facilitate this process.
Zhelyazkov held discussions with Talat Xhaferi, his Macedonian counterpart, as part of his visit to the Balkan nation.
“It is crucial for North Macedonia and Albania to progress jointly towards the EU. Last year, the Bulgarian Parliament endorsed the French proposal. The compromise serves the interests of our nations. Our position aligns with that of the Macedonian Parliament,” Zhelyazkov expressed.
To advance in EU accession negotiations, North Macedonia must amend its Constitution, incorporating the Bulgarian minority in the preamble as a state-forming entity – a requirement outlined in what is known as the “French proposal” aimed at resolving disputes with Bulgaria.
This amendment necessitates a two-thirds majority in the Macedonian Parliament, a threshold that is currently unmet as both the Macedonian opposition and Albanian parties have withheld their support.
Xhaferi affirmed that the majority is actively working to secure deputy support, emphasizing the paramount importance of EU integration for North Macedonia.
During their meeting, Zhelyazkov and Xhaferi also addressed the implementation of the 2019 Good Neighborliness Agreement and strategies to alleviate tensions between the two nations.
“We must cultivate trust, counteract the language of hatred, and the assurance of this lies in respecting the rights of the Bulgarian ethnic community,” Zhelyazkov emphasized.
While the Chairman of the Bulgarian Parliament encouraged dialogue in Skopje, Bulgaria’s Vice President Iliana Iotova delivered pointed criticisms from Sofia. Iotova accused Macedonian politicians of displaying a “lack of willingness to cooperate and fulfill the criteria for the continuation of European integration”.
“Politicians in Skopje exhibit neither willingness nor consensus for cooperation. North Macedonia shows no indications of abandoning the language of hatred towards Bulgaria,” Iotova declared in a speech at Sofia University.
