“Negotiations are open and screening has begun. The holding of the next intergovernmental conference depends on an agreement between the two sides. If you do not make the constitutional amendments, the negotiation process will probably stop and you will have to wait for this matter to be resolved.”
This was pointed out by the EU ambassador in Skopje, David Geer, in an interview with Radio Free Europe.
The constitutional changes provide for the inclusion of the Bulgarian community in the basic law of the country, BGNES reminds.
“When screening is completed at this stage, moving to the next point requires another intergovernmental conference. Of course, it is a sovereign decision of the Republic of Macedonia to change the Constitution. But what if it doesn’t last? I think the most likely scenario will be that the negotiation process stops there. You will complete the screening, but the holding of the intergovernmental conference and the next steps will await the resolution of this matter. Not because a third country imposed a veto, but because this country (RS Macedonia) decided to withdraw from the commitment made bilaterally with Bulgaria,” says the diplomat.
Geer recalled the words of European leaders that “the membership process will be conducted on the basis of European standards and European principles. The leaders went further to say that these identity issues cannot be conditions or determining factors in the membership process itself. Von der Leyen in front of parliament, during the debate there, also added that the interpretation of history, for example, are examples of things that should not be included,” Geer said.
“Look at the countries that have become members. Have the Spanish become less Spanish? Have Estonians, being a smaller country, become less Estonian? Have the Maltese of an even smaller country become less Maltese? Obviously not and there is no reason for this country (RS Macedonia) to question its identity, he said.
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