North Macedonia and EU integration prospects

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

04 Feb 2022 6 3

Olivér Várhelyi

Inserted 2 years ago

“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.”

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

19 Oct 2021 8 8

Edi Rama

Inserted 2 years ago

“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.”

Albanian Prime Minister

15 Jul 2021 7 4

Albin Kurti

Inserted 2 years ago

“As a Prime Minister of a country whose citizens are being kept isolated by being denied visa liberalization, we understand the frustration of Albania and North Macedonia on the lack of progress on accession talks with the European Union but we must nevertheless commit strongly to EU integration, our democratization and economic development agenda for our citizens.”

Kosovo Prime Minister

05 Jul 2021 2 5

Tanja Fajon

Inserted 2 years ago

“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.”

Slovenian politician and Member of the European Parliament

01 Jul 2021 3 5

Nikola Dimitrov

Inserted 2 years ago

“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.”

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of North Macedonia

01 Jul 2021 4 6

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“The meeting today is a step towards finding a solution that is aimed at being of interest to both parties. Only in this way will we have the support of the citizens of both countries. I appeal to the brotherly people in Bulgaria through their leaders to continue their support for the Republic of North Macedonia on the road to its EU membership because our country has no other alternative. The most important thing is that we believe in European values.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

17 Jun 2021 3 2

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“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.”

Rferl

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

17 Jun 2021 2 3

Emmanuel Macron

Inserted 2 years ago

“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,.”

President of France

11 Jun 2021 4 4

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“It is very important for us that France supports the process of integration of North Macedonia in the EU, with clearly set standards and without wasting time. Ahead of us is the European Council Summit in June, which is a real opportunity for a step forward and a solution that will remove the blockade on our European path.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

10 Jun 2021 4 2

Ned Price

Inserted 2 years ago

“We support the opening of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania without delay. We are engaging at the highest levels of government to demonstrate our commitment to the aspirants' European paths.”

Spokesperson for the United States Department of State

10 Jun 2021 4 6

Vlado Misajlovski

Inserted 2 years ago

“We took to the streets to raise our voice and to ask the government to show us what is being put on the table [in talks with Bulgaria], and whether they are again negotiating about Macedonian identity and language. We are all supporting the EU bid but there is something more important than that, the Macedonian state, the nation, the citizens and off course, the [national] identity.”

Vice president of North Macedonian main opposition party VMRO DPMNE

09 Jun 2021 1 3

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Mickoski [Hristijan Mickoski] absolutely knows that the plan [Portuguese plan to overcome the issues with Bulgaria] is good and is a starting point for reaching a solution. So now, to organise protests with a few cars and a handful of people to block the traffic, is a message that I really cannot understand. We are talking with Bulgaria about the roadmap, and the talks are focused on a sectorial level, on construction of railways and roads that are part of Corridor 8, on cooperation between the culture ministries, and ministries for education and science, on labour and social policies and on health, as well as on cooperation between the national youth agencies and the national broadcasters. Everything else is being discussed through the Portuguese presidency.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

08 Jun 2021 2 3

Svetlan Stoev

Inserted 2 years ago

“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.”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria

07 Jun 2021 3 3

Jakub Kulhanek

Inserted 2 years ago

“This is a crucial time, and we cannot allow [the process] to be stuck with such demands.”

Rferl

Czech Foreign Minister

23 May 2021 0 3

Krasimir Karakachanov

Inserted 3 years ago

“We treat the Republic of North Macedonia as a country where our compatriots live. Their political elite cannot understand exactly what they want and what they do not want. They want to enter the EU in muddy shoes, without apologizing for the killed Bulgarians.”

Bulgaria’s Minister of Defense

05 Feb 2021 1 3

Boyko Borisov

Inserted 3 years ago

“We hope that together with our brothers from North Macedonia, next year we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Goce Delchev. Today marks 149 years since the birth of Goce Delchev, voivode activist of the revolutionary liberation movement of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, among our most distinguished common historical heroes. I hope we have wisdom next year, along with our friends and brothers from North Macedonia, to celebrate its 150th anniversary, united and together on the path of European integration.”

Prime Minister of Bulgaria

05 Feb 2021 3 3

Srdan Cvijić

Inserted 3 years ago

“Yes, Germany’s EU Presidency was a failure. However, I would not say that it is Germany’s fault, nor of all the countries in the Western Balkans. Some, such as North Macedonia, deserve to open the first chapters in the EU accession negotiations, but have been denied that right and cannot be said to be at fault. Others, such as Vučić’s Serbia, not only did almost nothing, but the rule of law and democracy, during 2020, further declined, and additional chapters with them were not opened.”

Senior Analyst at the Open Society European Policy Institute in Brussels

22 Jan 2021 7 8

Florian Bieber

Inserted 3 years ago

“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.”

Professor at the University of Graz and member of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG)

22 Jan 2021 5 6

Stefan Andonovski

Inserted 3 years ago

“The time has come for a resignation, a resignation for shame, for the lies they told us that we have a date for negotiations with the EU, a resignation because they said there would be no declaration or an additional agreement with Bulgaria, and they brought it, a resignation because they negotiated Macedonian language to be with a footnote. Mainly because they brought national shame to the people of 'Macedonia' and did not bring the EU”