Leader of North Macedonia Upset Over Potential Obstacle to EU Accession

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of North Macedonia expressed strong frustration in response to reports suggesting that the country’s European Union accession process faced a setback due to a disagreement with neighboring EU member Bulgaria. Mickoski criticized the EU, accusing it of attempting to dictate North Macedonia’s actions in the accession process. He emphasized that further delays in the membership talks with the EU would not be acceptable.
Reports emerged indicating that EU ambassadors meeting in Brussels decided to proceed with Albania’s EU accession process independently from North Macedonia’s. Previously, the two countries had been progressing together, but any decision to separate their paths would require approval at a higher EU level.
European Commission spokeswoman Ana Pisonero neither confirmed nor denied the separation of negotiating paths for Albania and North Macedonia. She indicated that the two countries might have different tracks or time frames for their EU accession processes. Pisonero reiterated the Commission’s stance, expressing eagerness to initiate negotiations with Albania promptly and with North Macedonia once it fulfills the necessary criteria.
The EU launched membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia in 2022 amidst a reconsideration of the enlargement process prompted by the conflict in Ukraine. Although both countries became EU candidates two decades ago, their accession talks never began. However, North Macedonia’s accession progress was hindered by a dispute with Bulgaria concerning Balkan history, language, and culture.
To overcome the impasse, the previous center-left government in Skopje agreed to a Bulgarian demand to include a reference to a Bulgarian ethnic minority in North Macedonia’s constitution. Nonetheless, the government lacked the parliamentary majority to enact this change. Mickoski’s new conservative government insists on amending the constitution only if Bulgaria approves North Macedonia’s EU membership first.
Mickoski criticized the linkage between his country’s EU prospects and Bulgaria’s demands, referring to it as a dictate. He emphasized his stance against such conditions for North Macedonia to continue negotiations, asserting his position during the talks in Brussels.
North Macedonia had faced obstacles on its EU path for years due to a dispute with neighboring Greece over historical and heritage issues. The conflict was resolved in 2018 when North Macedonia changed its name from “Macedonia” to its current name, a change that Mickoski does not prefer.
The main opposition Social Democrats’ leader Venko Filipche held Mickoski’s government accountable for the recent setback in the EU accession process. Filipche expressed concern about the ramifications of this development, labeling it a missed opportunity that would impact many families and future generations.