Bulgaria is not backing down on its positions involving the Macedonian EU integration bid to block the adoption of the negotiating frameworks, set to pave the way for the first intergovernmental conference and opening of negotiations between the EU and North Macedonia. It’s very likely that Sofia this Tuesday at the EU ministerial meeting will use its right to veto.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva has said Bulgaria at this stage cannot say “Yes” to North Macedonia opening accession talks. On the other hand, Skopje has reaffirmed that chances are slim for Sofia to change its mind, however stressing it will continue to seek solutions till the last.
On Sunday, PM Zoran Zaev said he still has hope. Politicians, however, have great responsibility, he said warning that the decision could cause unfavorable consequences.
“I’m ready and have prepared the Macedonian people for a veto, which is becoming more and more likely. However, I never lose hope, because as politicians we bear great responsibility. Although the GAC meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17, we have time until the end of December to hold the first intergovernmental conference,” Zaev told reporters.
He said he expected the Bulgarian side will demonstrate responsibility and friendship. “Sending a negative message could reflect badly on both sides. We need friendship and a helping hand on our European path,” the PM stressed.
Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani too hopes that there is time until the EU meeting for North Macedonia and Bulgaria to find common ground.
In the next two days, he added, we’ll see how our efforts will be reflected and what the decision will mean for our relations, regional issues and EU’s credibility.
“We’ll make efforts until the General Affairs Council makes a decision. There’s no alternative to our European agenda. I can’t predict the outcome, but it’s becoming clearer that Bulgaria is leaning towards rejecting the negotiating framework. We’ll continue to make efforts and communicate not only with Bulgaria, but with other EU members,” Osmani said.
According to him, North Macedonia and Bulgaria obviously have different positions, which may seem insurmountable, but have nothing to do with the negotiating process.
“These differences have nothing to do with the first intergovernmental conference, bilateral screening, rule of law or environment chapter. The process of negotiations is just a way for the EU to assist the progress of a candidate country, promote rule of law, environmental protection, trade relations. No issue should pose obstacle for a country’s progress in these areas, in line with shared European values,” the Foreign Minister said.
Osmani’s counterpart in Bulgaria, Ekaterina Zaharieva has said her country is saying ‘no’ to start of talks, not to North Macedonia’s EU membership.
“At the moment, we believe the country’s not ready to meet criteria for starting negotiations,” she claimed.
According to her, Skopje has failed to implement Friendship Treaty provisions and has continued to spew hate towards Sofia. Therefore, she added, there’s no way for Bulgaria to say “yes” at this stage of the process.
“No one is questioning their right to self-determination and language, but that right should not be based on hate and negation of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian language. The way they’re headed, they will soon start denying the existence of the Bulgarian nation,” Zaharieva told television channel bTV on Sunday.
The Bulgarian government late on Friday at an online session endorsed the national position regarding the EU negotiating frameworks of North Macedonia and Albania, set to be discussed by the EU General Affairs Council on November 17, it said in a press release.
“Bulgaria is one of the strongest supporters of the enlargement process. During its 2018 EU Presidency, it put enlargement as a top priority back on the EU agenda. European prospects provide strong incentive for Western Balkan countries to transition towards democratic rule and market economy,” the press release read, providing no further detail on the country’s position.
At the latest meeting of EU Ambassadors, held November 6, Bulgaria opposed the adoption of North Macedonia’s EU negotiating framework.
Sofia told Brussels that the draft-framework and draft-declaration don’t provide guarantee that North Macedonia will meet preconditions set by Bulgaria regarding implementation of the Friendship Treaty, historical issues and the Macedonian language and identity.
The EU General Affairs Council session during which Ministers are set to discuss the adoption of the negotiating framework, initially scheduled for November 10, was pushed back a week to give Skopje and Sofia time to find common ground, under the mediation of the German EU Presidency.
