In anticipation of an agreement on the negotiating framework for North Macedonia, as a step towards holding the first intergovernmental conference to start the country’s EU accession talks, international experts say Sofia’s threats are absurd.
Austrian political analyst and founding chairman of the European Stability Initiative (ESI), Gerald Knaus, says unless the issue of Sofia’s threats to block the country’s accession negotiations is addressed, the credibility of the EU accession policy will collapse, which would be tragic for the Union, for North Macedonia and for Bulgaria.
“Unless this is addressed, the credibility of EU accession policy collapses in 2020, under the German EU presidency. At a time of enormous instability all around the EU already,” the Austrian expert points out.
According to him, the insisting by Sofia and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zakharieva that Skopje acknowledges historical truth – Bulgarian roots of the Macedonian nation and language, is absurd.
“Imagine Germany insisting that „Austria acknowledges German roots“, threatening „tensions“ if it doesn‘t. Sweden doing this to Norway. Czechs telling this to Slovaks. Absurd? Yes. This is what Bulgaria is doing, demolishing credibility of EU Balkan policy,” Knaus posted on Twitter.
Zakharieva said in an interview with Reuters on Friday that Bulgaria is not disputing North Macedonia’s right for self-determination, neither their right to call their language what they like, and that Sofia is ready to re-confirm the current realities but Skopje has to acknowledge the historical truth.
“Our concerns come from the never-ending claims for a Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. The acknowledgment of Bulgarian roots would put an end to this,” she told Reuters.
A next opportunity to overcome differences with Bulgaria ahead of the EU Council in early November, is the meeting between Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani and his counterpart Zakharieva on Thursday in Sofia at the “Western Balkans Beyond 2020: Actions And Decisions In Times Of Pandemic” event, which will be addressed by EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi.
“We’re trying to organize a meeting. If it weren’t for the pandemic, we would have certainly held several meetings by now, although we’re in constant communication with the minister. I hope a meeting will take place next week, seeing that the days are nearing for the EU Council’s decision,” Osmani said on Friday.
As regards the working groups of the two ministries which, Osmani said, communicate on a daily basis despite restrictions imposed by the pandemic, concrete steps have been taken. According to him, it would be a pity not to make use of the imposed dynamics in the relations between the politicians and the commissions.
