The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, today called on the government of North Macedonia to proceed with the amendment of its Constitution (in order to include the Bulgarian minority living in the country), so that the country can start accession negotiations with the EU.
“We have a clear goal, the opening of the package of accession funds that concerns the fundamental issues, as soon as possible. We are almost at the point where the constitutional changes your country has agreed to must go through. I hope that all the political forces of the country, through joint dialogue, will unite and take the necessary decisive steps for progress. I am sure that we can overcome the obstacles that exist”, noted Ursula von der Leyen, after the meeting she had today in Skopje with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Christian Mickoski.
Obstacles from Bulgaria
Bulgaria has long blocked the start of North Macedonia’s accession negotiations with the EU, due to historical, linguistic and ethnic differences between the two countries.
However, in the summer of 2022, the then governments of the two countries accepted a compromise proposal from the EU, which provides that Bulgaria will lift the “veto” it has placed on the opening of North Macedonia’s accession capitals with the EU, provided that the North Macedonia to first amend its Constitution to include the Bulgarian minority living in the country.
The previous center-left government in North Macedonia tried to implement the proposal but failed, as the amendment of the country’s Constitution requires a 2/3 majority from the Parliament and the right-wing VMRO-DPMNE party of Christian Mickoski, which since last June took over the governance of the country, does not consent to such a thing.
In the meantime, the new prime minister of North Macedonia made a maneuver, proposing that his country proceed with the amendment of its Constitution, but that this should apply from the moment North Macedonia joins the EU. This proposal is categorically rejected by Bulgaria, while and the EU has declared that such a thing is almost impossible, since as it notes a candidate country for joining the EU must not deviate from the agreed terms.
Christian Mickoski, asked today if Brussels could agree to his proposal for a delayed entry into force of his country’s Constitution, avoided a direct answer.
Only 0.2% officially
According to the last population census carried out in 2021 in North Macedonia, Bulgarians make up only 0.2% of the country’s population (a total of 3,500 people), a fact which the official Sofia disputes and considers that the percentage of Bulgarians in North Macedonia it is much larger
Just recently, the EU proceeded to disconnect the accession process of North Macedonia from that of Albania and the latter started, on October 15, negotiations with the EU, with the opening of the first accession chapters.
The president of the European Commission is carrying out a four-day tour of the countries of the Western Balkans (Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo) from yesterday Wednesday. At the heart of its meetings are the European course and the EU Development Plan for the countries of the Western Balkans, amounting to 6 billion euros (2 billion euros in grants and 4 billion euros in loans with extremely favorable conditions), for the period 2024 -2027.
6 billion euro package
Just yesterday, the European Commission approved the reform programs submitted by the countries of the Western Balkans, with the exception of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has not yet submitted a program, in order for them to gain access to this “package” of 6 billion euros from the EU. payments will be made after the agreed reform steps are completed. The aim of the Development Plan is to accelerate the socio-economic convergence of the region with the EU and pave the way towards EU integration.
Ursula von der Leyen, referring today from Skopje to the EU Development Plan for the Western Balkan countries, noted that this is a kind of road map for the economies of the Western Balkans to approach the EU economy and to give the businesses of the countries them the access and means to compete in the single European market.
Of the 6 billion euros of the EU Development Plan, 1.6 billion euros are allocated to Serbia, 992 million euros to Albania, 883 million euros to Kosovo, 750 million euros to North Macedonia and 384 million euros to Montenegro. .
Finally, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, today gave “credit” to North Macedonia for the fact that the country has fully aligned with the EU’s foreign and defense policy and for its support to Ukraine.
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#North #Macedonia #Ursula #von #der #Leyen #asked #change #countrys #Constitution
