Political Instability in Bulgaria Impacts North Macedonia’s EU Aspirations

Aleksandar Nikoloski, North Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, stated that the country's challenges in advancing EU accession talks stem not from major EU players like France but rather from what he described as "the weakest or second weakest EU country"—Bulgaria. He emphasized that if the European Union is determined for North Macedonia to begin negotiations, it could happen promptly, as there are no obstacles posed by powerful member states such as France.

Nikoloski noted that the most critical meeting for Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski was with French President Emmanuel Macron, whom he described as the EU's most influential leader. Macron, Nikoloski explained, enjoys significant legitimacy due to his clear electoral victory and his ability to lead an operational government, positioning France as the dominant force within the EU. He highlighted that the discussions with Macron were conducted in a positive atmosphere, raising hopes that securing French support could facilitate broader backing from other Western European nations. Nikoloski expressed confidence that once this alignment is achieved, a resolution to the issue with Bulgaria could be reached swiftly, facilitated by a prominent Western diplomat in Sofia.

The government led by Mickoski opposes the EU's stipulation that North Macedonia must amend its constitution to include Bulgarians as a recognized minority before the second intergovernmental conference can be held. Instead, Mickoski proposes that constitutional amendments take effect only after the conclusion of EU negotiations. According to Nikoloski, this position requires dialogue with a political government in Bulgaria, a situation complicated by the caretaker nature of the current Bulgarian...