Holidays have frozen talks to resolve dispute with Bulgaria

Summer holidays across Brussels and EU member states have temporarily stalled talks aimed at unblocking North Macedonia's accession process, Macedonian officials say.

Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski told reporters he expects negotiations to restart in the coming weeks but could not confirm whether Brussels or Sofia have already signalled if constitutional amendments with delayed entry into force would be acceptable as a solution. The government has again raised the question that the EU negotiating framework does not contain a provision on the timing of entry into force for constitutional changes.

Positions, guarantees and reciprocity

"I want to emphasize that the positions of our country are absolutely clear, that we expect a system of guarantees from the European institutions, we expect respect for reciprocity when it comes to human rights and we expect to have a solution that will be aimed at protecting our positions related to our language, culture and history," Mucunski, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, said.

He repeated the government's red lines but added that it is in the country's interest to reach a durable agreement. "We have dialogue with all parties involved in this process. We, essentially, who lead that dialogue, with EU member states, with EU institutions, which are aimed at finding a solution, within the positions that the government has presented to the public. Protecting national interests, but always understanding that it is necessary, in our interest, to find some sustainable and fair solution," Mucunski said.

Mucunski also announced that career diplomat Krum Efremov, currently director of the Directorate for Economic Diplomacy, has completed the procedure to be posted as North Macedonia's new ambassador to Bulgaria and is expected to assume the post in Sofia soon.

Officials noted that out of a total of 59 consular-diplomatic representations, 11 currently lack heads of mission, and the mandates of another six to seven ambassadors will expire over the next six months.

Photo: press material from the event