Czech Republic offers help to resolve dispute between North Macedonia and Bulgaria
Prague says it can help find a mutually acceptable solution so Skopje’s EU path can move forward
The Czech Republic has offered to assist in resolving the long-standing dispute between North Macedonia and Bulgaria in order to unblock Skopje's EU accession process, Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka said during an official visit to Ohrid.
Macinka underlined the European Union's strong interest in enlargement and said Prague is ready to look for a solution acceptable to both sides that would allow progress on accession talks.
Macinka: the issue is no longer purely bilateral
"This is no longer a bilateral issue between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, but, based on the conclusions of the European Council from 2022, it has become a multilateral issue. So, it is no longer a question of just two countries, but of all EU member states," Macinka said.
The minister also stressed the importance of the Union's decision-making procedures, including unanimity for enlargement decisions. He said the Czech Republic does not want to change the system so that some issues would be decided by qualified majority voting, nor to reduce the number of subjects requiring unanimity, and therefore considers it necessary to secure consensus.
Macinka's comments came alongside an announcement that Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is expected to visit Bulgaria in the coming weeks, where Macedonian-Bulgarian relations are likely to be on the agenda.
North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski welcomed offers to help but reiterated Skopje's firm position on identity-related matters. "For questions related to history, language, identity and culture we are not prepared to negotiate. First, because we consider that it violates our rights, even basic human rights, as people and as citizens of this country, but also because we consider that questions of that nature are not a European value or criterion, but sovereign rights of every country, including the sovereign rights of EU member states," Mucunski said.
Mucunski added that North Macedonia is not seeking privileged treatment but expects a fair, European process: the country is ready to carry out reforms and meet EU standards, and wants progress judged on results, merits and pre-established criteria rather than bilateral disputes.
Photo: press material from the event
