The Brussels Times: North Macedonia faces dispute with Bulgaria after solving name issue with Greece

Oct 19, 2020 | NEWSROOM, POLITICS

After having solved the name issue with Greece, which for years held back the start of EU enlargement negotiations for North Macedonia, the country is now facing another dispute with its neighbour Bulgaria on language and history, reads an article published by The Brussels Times.

Good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation remain essential elements of the enlargement process, the European Commission has told the publication. “We encourage both sides to redouble their efforts to find a solution to the pending issues.”

“It is up to North Macedonia and Bulgaria to engage directly – the Commission will not facilitate the dialogue for them as it is doing between Serbia and Kosovo,” stressed the article.

According to progress reports on each candidate country, The Brussels Times noted, in the area of the Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, progress has varied considerably over the last year. Only Albania and North Macedonia, the two countries that are eagerly waiting to start accession negotiations towards the end of this year, made “good progress.” Serbia and Montenegro, the only countries where negotiations are on-going, made no respectively limited progress in this area.

“The situation is even worse in all countries as regards the fight against corruption and respect of freedom of expression. The Western Balkans and Turkey continue to show ‘widespread corruption’ and no or limited progress when it comes to freedom of expression,” the news website added.

According to The Brussels Times, although the recent 2020 enlargement package shows that the candidate countries in the Western Balkans are not ready for accession, the European Commission is driving the enlargement process forward during the coronavirus crisis.
A Commission spokesperson told the publication that the enhanced approach to the accession process is reflected in the country reports. The assessments and recommendations for the countries are clearer and more precise.
“The reports are more transparent on the state of play of the accession negotiations and the extent to which fundamental reforms are being implemented,” the spokesperson added.
The Brussels Times reiterated that the draft negotiating frameworks for Albania and North Macedonia were presented by the Commission to the Council in the beginning of July but the frameworks have not been made public. The discussions in the Council on the frameworks are ongoing and the spokesperson declined to comment on them.
“After the frameworks have been adopted by the Council, the first intergovernmental conferences (IGC) will be convened to signal the formal launch of the enlargement negotiations,” the article read, adding that the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, was hopeful that such a conference will be held before the end of the German EU presidency this year.

Truth Matters. Democracy Depends on It