Bulgaria closes door to changing conditions, Skopje asks Brussels for guarantees

Bulgaria has told Skopje that talks remain possible but the conditions for progress will not be renegotiated, after North Macedonian Foreign Minister Mucunski asked for a stronger EU presence in any future dialogue. Sofia said it expects the country to fulfil the commitments it has already undertaken.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its backing for the European Commission’s role in assessing candidate countries and their progress.

"The accession process of North Macedonia to the EU is a European matter that should be resolved within the European institutions and in accordance with the established rules and procedures. We expect North Macedonia to fulfil its obligations and to start the necessary changes to continue progressing on its European path," the Bulgarian MFA said.

Domestic debate and international context

Academic voices say the lack of strong, unified support inside the EU helps explain the uncertain pace of enlargement. "Why is there no support from Europe? Not because Europe does not want the Western Balkan countries or does not want North Macedonia, nor because someone has something deeply against us. The reason is that the European Union, that is the main European countries, I am convinced that at the moment do not know what they want regarding the Western Balkans, as well as Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Moldova. Until Europe rediscovers itself, it is hard to speak of a political consensus for enlargement," said Dr. Aleksandar Spasov, a university professor.

The opposition has warned that shortcomings in reforms could damage the country's EU path. At a meeting with French senators, SDSM leader Venko Filipche voiced serious concern, saying that criticisms of the government's record are already noted in European Commission reports, particularly on the rule of law and the judiciary.

"If this Government provides better conditions in the negotiations or guarantees that we will not be blocked again on the path to EU integration, we will support that. But the question is – what if there are no guarantees and they are not provided?! And how long will they attempt to secure some guarantees because time is passing," Filipche said.

The ruling party VMRO-DPMNE rejected the accusations and hit back at SDSM and Filipche. "SDSM and Venko Filipche continue with fake concern for the citizens. The hypocrisy of Filipche and SDSM goes so far that they say that the Macedonian identity was threatened and that Macedonia was in isolation," VMRO-DPMNE said.

Meanwhile, Brussels is debating alternative approaches to enlargement that would allow gradual integration and concrete benefits before full membership. A Franco-German non-paper is among the proposals, while a group of member states insist that newcomers must not be treated as second-class members.

Photo: press material from the event