North Macedonia Faces Fierce Scrutiny Over EU Accession Delays
The North Macedonian Foreign Minister, Timcho Mutsunski, found himself under intense questioning before the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. MEPs from across the political spectrum criticized his country’s handling of relations with Bulgaria, citing concerns about its commitment to international agreements and its lingering issues with the Prominent MEPs, including Michael Galler of the EPP, Yannis Maniatis, a Greek socialist and Ivaylo Valchev representing the EKR group, voiced accusations and raised pointed questions about North Macedonia’s progress toward EU membership.
A Painful Veto Delaying Progress
“Bulgaria’s continued veto of our EU accession process is particularly painful,” stated Mutsunski. “It not only halts our progress but also sends a discouraging signal about the state of European solidarity and mutual respect. By allowing bilateral relations to dominate this process, we risk turning this mechanism into a tool for division instead of unification”.
“What did you do to assure your Bulgarian friends that their rights will be respected?” inquired Galler, highlighting the anxieties within the European Parliament about the treatment of Bulgaria’s minority population in North Macedonia.
Maniatis echoed these concerns, stating, “It seems that your president and prime minister have a different attitude to the Prespa agreement and this leads to dangerous nationalism, thus creating even more obstacles to your European path.” This sentiment underscores the worry that unresolved bilateral tensions threatened North Macedonia’s integration into the EU family.
Valchev, during his questioning, challenged Mutsunski with a pointed observation: “Bulgaria has a long history of supporting the Euro-Atlantic integration of your country, it is strange to us why you are still delaying”? His words sparked debate about whether North Macedonia was fully committed to joining the European bloc.
Facing Accusations and Demands for Action
Focusing on the 2017 Good Neighbor Treaty and the compromises forged through negotiations in 2022, Valchev demanded, “There is no Bulgarian veto. My question to you is very simple – when will your government put into action the mechanism of concrete actions? I want to hear about the conclusions of the Council from June 18, 2022; the negotiation framework, and the implementation of intergovernmental protocols outlined in the Good Neighbor Treaty of 2017. When will you prove that North Macedonia is a functioning democracy that respects the commitments made on the international stage?”
Stanislav Stoyanov, a representative from the “Europe of Sovereign Nations”, further emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The EU has issued repeated warnings that there can be no renegotiation of the compromise with Bulgaria from 2022. We have noticed that hate speech against Bulgaria continues, and it’s coming from the highest level of your state. This behavior has no place in the European Union.”
Peter Volgin, also from “Europe of Sovereign Nations”, directly challenged Mutsunski, asking: “Your country is not fulfilling the commitments it made in the 2017 treaty with the Republic of Bulgaria, nor is it fulfilling the commitments you made in accordance with the European compromise of 2022. Instead, you are betting on anti-Bulgarian rhetoric. How do you imagine, that this will bring you closer to the EU?”
A Plea for Understanding, a Defense of Minorities
In his defense, Mutsunski acknowledged his country’s imperfections, saying “Although we have many shortcomings, if there is one thing we do at a very high level, it is protecting the rights of minorities.”
He also moved to highlight personal connections to Bulgaria: “Let me now turn to a matter that concerns me personally, our relations with Bulgaria. One of my earliest and fondest memories is connected with Bulgaria. My first vacation as a small child was in Sunny Beach, where for the first time I discovered my love for the sea and the sun. Years later, another precious moment was when my son took his first steps on skis in Borovets, embracing the joy of winter in the beautiful mountains of Bulgaria. These are experiences our peoples share, built over generations. However, these ties are under threat. Policies and actions in recent years have fueled distrust between our nations, undermining the very fabric of our good-neighborly relations”.
What concrete steps is the North Macedonian government taking to address the concerns raised by MEPs regarding the 2017 Good Neighbor Treaty and the 2022 negotiations?
## Interview with North Macedonian Foreign Minister
**Interviewer:** Welcome to the show Minister Mutsunski. The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee recently questioned you quite harshly, expressing concerns about North Macedonia’s commitment to the EU and its handling of relations with Bulgaria.
**Minister Mutsunski:** Thank you for having me. The questioning was indeed intense, reflecting the complexities of the situation. Let me be clear, North Macedonia is deeply committed to joining the EU. This is not just a geopolitical ambition, but a heartfelt desire of our people to be part of the European family.
**Interviewer:** Many MEPs, including Michael Galler of the EPP and Yannis Maniatis, a Greek socialist, expressed concerns about the treatment of Bulgaria’s minority population in North Macedonia. How do you address these worries?
**Minister Mutsunski:** North Macedonia is a multi-ethnic society and we are deeply committed to protecting the rights of all our citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or background. We understand the concerns raised and are actively working to ensure that all communities feel respected and included. We are making progress, and I want to assure our partners in the EU that we take these matters very seriously.
**Interviewer:** Ivaylo Valchev, representing the EKR group, went so far as to say that Bulgaria has a long history of supporting North Macedonia’s EU integration, yet “you are still delaying.” What is your response to this accusation?
**Minister Mutsunski:** Bulgaria’s continued veto of our EU accession process is particularly painful. [[1](https://www.dw.com/en/north-macedonia-how-long-before-it-can-join-the-eu/a-66668402)]. While we value Bulgaria’s past support, it not only halts our progress but also sends a discouraging signal about the state of European solidarity and mutual respect.
**Interviewer:** MEPs like Mr. Valchev demanded concrete actions from the Macedonian government, referring to the 2017 Good Neighbor Treaty and the 2022 negotiations. Can you elaborate on the steps you are taking to address their concerns?
**Minister Mutsunski:** We are fully committed to implementing the Good Neighbor Treaty and the agreements reached in 2022. We are working diligently to translate these commitments into concrete actions and we are open to constructive dialog with Bulgaria to address any remaining concerns.
**Interviewer:** So, despite the challenges, you remain confident that North Macedonia will eventually join the EU?
**Minister Mutsunski:** We are not discouraged. The path to EU membership is challenging, but we remain dedicated to meeting the necessary criteria and fulfilling our obligations. We believe that North Macedonia has a valuable contribution to make to the EU and we remain hopeful that the road ahead will lead us to full membership.
