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Bulgaria blocking North Macedonia’s EU accession talks

Page with all the IPSEs stored in the archive related to the Context Bulgaria blocking North Macedonia’s EU accession talks.
The IPSEs are presented in chronological order based on when the IPSEs have been pronounced.

Zoran Zaev
Zoran Zaev

“My days [as PM] are numbered. I said I would stay to solidify the government majority and today I believe we are achieving that goal. Now I will need to oversee developments with Bulgaria, and that will take only a few weeks.”

author
Prime Minister of North Macedonia
05 Dec 2021 1 3
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Dimitar Bechev
Dimitar Bechev

“Serbia, negotiating its accession since 2014, has not opened any new chapters since December 2019. Montenegro, the frontrunner, is now carrying out talks on all EU dossiers, but there is no end in sight for that country either. Then, there is North Macedonia, which has been blocked from launching membership negotiations by its neighbour Bulgaria over a dispute about history and language. Albania, another hopeful, is a collateral damage because it is bundled together with the Macedonians. Bosnia and Kosovo are even further behind in the queue. Kosovars are frustrated that despite meeting all technical conditions they are still denied visa-free travel to the Schengen zone, unlike those living in the rest of the Western Balkans as well as post-Soviet republics such as Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. Europe, it seems, is keeping the region at an arms-length, while continuing to occasionally pay lip service to demands for enlargement.”

author
Europe’s Futures Fellow at the Institute of Human Sciences in Vienna
21 Oct 2021 14 8
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Olivér Várhelyi
Olivér Várhelyi

“Delays in the official start of membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia have a negative impact on the credibility of the EU. The pending bilateral issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia should be resolved as a matter of priority. It is essential that EU Member States conclude discussions on the Negotiating Frameworks without further delay and that the first intergovernmental conferences with both countries be held as soon as possible and before the end of this year. Albania has achieved tangible results in judicial reform and the fight against crime, results have been achieved in the fight against corruption and crime. Macedonia has made progress in the reforms imposed by the EU, it has been determined in the fight against crime and corruption, this fight must continue.”

author
European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement
19 Oct 2021 8 8
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Edi Rama
Edi Rama

“We prepared for the first big wedding with all the decorations. The European Commission said that we are ready for the integration process … First wedding, the bride did not come; the second wedding, the bride did not come. We are not preparing any third wedding. We are hostages of EU nationalisms. The path of Western Balkan integration is dependent more and more on EU nationalisms. When I talk about EU nationalisms, I am talking about the nationalisms of powerful countries holding hostage leaders who are not yet nationalists. In the Balkans, when we copy, we go further than the original. The Bulgarian attitude is a result of what Bulgaria has learned within the EU from the great ones. Bulgaria has learned that it can use local politics to block others.”

author
Albanian Prime Minister
15 Jul 2021 7 4
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Tanja Fajon
Tanja Fajon

“To be frank, the region is in a bad condition, the enlargement is in a bad condition, and the EU is in a bad condition. A lot of selfishness, a lot of egoism in the past years, as well as dangerous nationalism. For a country - Bulgaria - to jeopardize another country - this is selfish and dangerous.”

author
Slovenian politician and Member of the European Parliament
01 Jul 2021 3 5
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Nikola Dimitrov
Nikola Dimitrov

“This is great timing for this topic and our gathering. However, we have to be honest and open – it is the worst time possible. For the second time, Bulgaria vetoed the accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania. It has been two decades since we started the talks with the EU. We do not know whether to expect it anymore. If the EU cannot make a difference in the region, which is not even its backyard, but its courtyard, it is telling about the problem the EU faces. The long-term consequence will be the weakening of those who believe in the transformative process of the enlargement and in European values.”

author
Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of North Macedonia
01 Jul 2021 4 6
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Zoran Zaev
Zoran Zaev

“I am convinced that today's meetings here in Sofia will bring about only good for both brotherly nations. I appeal on the brotherly Bulgarian nation - through its leaders - to continue to help the Republic of North Macedonia on our path toward the European Union. We have no alternative.”

author
Prime Minister of North Macedonia
17 Jun 2021 2 3
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Emmanuel Macron
Emmanuel Macron

“The European Union decided in March last year to start negotiations with your country and now is the time to concretize that decision and France actively supports it. North Macedonia deserves to start negotiations without delay. I am personally involved in finding a solution with Bulgaria,.”

author
President of France
11 Jun 2021 4 4
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Svetlan Stoev
Svetlan Stoev

“Bulgaria has always supported the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans and as a country in the region is clearly aware that the path to the EU is the strongest factor in the transition to democratic governance. Bulgaria has always shown a will for a constructive and pragmatic dialogue with Skopje. We will continue to work for the restoration of trust. We expect legal guarantees for compliance with the 2017 Treaty and a constructive response from Skopje for a long-term solution to the issue.”

author
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
07 Jun 2021 3 3
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Florian Bieber
Florian Bieber

“While it is uncertain that North Macedonia and Albania will progress this year, I would think the odds are good. After Bulgarian elections (scheduled for March) there will be a chance to find a face-saving way out for Bulgaria. However, if that opportunity is missed, the risk will be that the veto 'settles in' and becomes harder to challenge in the subsequent period.”

author
Professor at the University of Graz and member of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG)
22 Jan 2021 5 6
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