SKOPJE, North Macedonia — During a visit on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commended North Macedonia for its ongoing reform initiatives. However, she underscored the necessity of advancing constitutional amendments to facilitate the country’s progress in its quest to join the European Union.

The accession process for North Macedonia has been hindered by a prolonged dispute with neighboring Bulgaria, which is already an EU member. In an effort to overcome the stalemate, the former center-left government proposed a constitutional amendment to incorporate a mention of the Bulgarian ethnic minority. Unfortunately, this government did not possess the parliamentary strength needed to pass the amendment.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, the newly established conservative government asserts that it will only pursue constitutional changes if Bulgaria grants approval for North Macedonia’s EU membership without imposing further conditions.

“We are nearly there, but we recognize that the constitutional change is a commitment your country has made,” von der Leyen remarked at a joint news conference with Mickoski in Skopje, which is part of her six-nation regional tour.

The urgency of EU membership bids from Balkan countries has increased, especially in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the potential for broader regional instability. The EU initiated membership talks with both North Macedonia and Albania in 2022. Recently, the bloc has decided to advance Albania’s accession process independently, moving away from the previous strategy of simultaneously advancing both countries.

Von der Leyen appealed for bipartisan support in North Macedonia for the proposed constitutional change. Her regional tour will proceed with visits to Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, and Montenegro as the EU aims to provide assurances to the Western Balkan nations regarding their future membership opportunities.