North Macedonia’s president and prime minister have criticized the European Union for placing stumbling blocks in their country’s accession bid due to a dispute with Bulgaria over Balkan history, language, and culture. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski expressed anger at the EU’s attempts to dictate their actions and insisted on no further delays in membership talks. Reports suggested that the EU had decided to push ahead with Albania’s accession process independently, separating it from North Macedonia’s. European Commission spokeswoman Ana Pisonero noted that the two countries were on different tracks in terms of negotiations.
The EU began membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania in 2022, but North Macedonia faced delays due to the dispute with Bulgaria. The previous government had attempted to address the issue by accepting a Bulgarian demand in the constitution, but the new conservative government under Mickoski insists on approval of EU membership first. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova likened their EU membership process to waiting for Godot, expressing frustration at the prolonged negotiations.
The dispute with Bulgaria is the latest setback in North Macedonia’s EU accession journey, which had previously been blocked by Greece over a naming issue in 2018. Opposition leaders in North Macedonia criticized Mickoski’s government for the new setback, calling it a disaster for citizens and future generations. The impasse highlights the complex challenges and political tensions that continue to hinder North Macedonia’s path towards European integration.
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