EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi is being too soft on Sofia in regard to blocking the launch of membership talks with North Macedonia, Politico writes in its analysis on the work of the EU commissioners in the past year.
As the worst moment in Várhelyi‘s work, Politico cites Bulgaria’s blockade of the country due to a bilateral dispute over language and identity.
“Bulgaria’s block on the launch of membership talks with North Macedonia due to a bilateral dispute over language and identity dealt a blow to the Commission’s aim of starting negotiations before year-end. Some diplomats accuse Várhelyi of being too soft on Sofia but most say the main problem is that the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) alliance has not been tough enough on Bulgarian leader Boyko Borissov, an EPP prime minister,” Politico writes.
A recurring criticism of Várhelyi is that he is too sensitive to Hungarian interests, rather than the EU’s as a whole, Politico adds.
According to Politico, the key player in attempts to unblock the standstill between Bulgaria and North Macedonia is the German Council presidency, rather than Várhelyi. Until that happens, a big part of his work is effectively frozen.
