{"id":39879,"date":"2022-07-19T17:12:52","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T15:12:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=39879"},"modified":"2022-07-19T17:32:26","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T15:32:26","slug":"they-wont-stop-here-macedonian-citizens-on-why-theyre-skeptical-of-the-launch-of-accession-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/they-wont-stop-here-macedonian-citizens-on-why-theyre-skeptical-of-the-launch-of-accession-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018They won\u2019t stop here!\u2019 Macedonian citizens on why they’re skeptical of accession talks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many citizens in North Macedonia are expressing their skepticism when it comes to whether or not much will change, after today\u2019s start of accession negotiations with the European Union.<\/p>\n

In a few interviews for Euronews Albania, some said that they don\u2019t see any short-term benefits from today\u2019s decision and that Bulgaria won\u2019t give up any time soon and that it will continue to block North Macedonia\u2019s road toward EU integration.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hearing everything, especially about our language being disputed, our Macedonian language! But, we’ll see how this will unfold in the end. At this rate, however, Bulgarians won\u2019t give up any time soon and I am 100% sure of this. But I can\u2019t tell you exactly when this will all stop,\u201d \u2013 said one of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t good at all for the Macedonian people. Our identity is disappearing, it is getting crushed. Our people are being forced to accept many things. They\u2019re continuously forced to kneel down. That\u2019s why this isn\u2019t good at all for our people and our nation,\u201d \u2013 said another. citizen<\/p>\n

But there are also those who are optimistic and consider this a very important moment for the country and the people living in it, despite the fact that there may not be any short-term results.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that we will benefit from this and that we will join the European Union. We will need to implement the steps that are definitely difficult, but we will be able to deliver in the end\u201d \u2013 said another.<\/p>\n

For the past 2 weeks, the opposition has been organizing mass protests against the French proposal, claiming that it won\u2019t resolve the dispute with Bulgaria and that it violates and endangers the Macedonian language and its national identity.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, ethnic Albanian politicians and citizens have, for the most part, supported the French proposal as a precondition to start accession talks and continue on their Euro-Atlantic journey.<\/p>\n

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