Skopje (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lauded North Macedonia’s reform steps but emphasised the need for improvement on constitutional transitions if the country was to make headway with its bid to join the EU.
North Macedonia’s conflict with neighbour and EU member Bulgaria has slowed its EU accession process. The earlier centre-left government agreed to add a reference to a Bulgarian ethnic minority in the constitution to crack the impasse but lacked the parliamentary majority to legislate the change. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s latest conservative administration argues it will only amend the constitution if Bulgaria first supports North Macedonia’s EU membership without additional prerequisites.
“We are almost there, but we know it’s about the constitutional change that your country has committed to,” von der Leyen conveyed to a joint meeting with Mickoski in Skopje, while on a six-nation expedition of the region. Von der Leyen insisted on cross-party support in North Macedonia for the constitutional modification. Her regional tour persists with visits to Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro as the EU aims to reassure Western Balkan nations of their membership prospects.
How is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine accelerating EU bids in the Balkans?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and worries of broader instability in Europe have added speed to EU accession bids by Balkan countries pursuing entry. North Macedonia along with other Western Balkans allies was identified as a potential contender for EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council meeting in 2003.
It applied for EU membership in March 2004 and the EU Council approved in December 2005 to grant the country candidate rank. The EU started membership discussions with North Macedonia and Albania in 2022, and the bloc recently moved ahead with Albania’s accession process independently, leaving the previous method of moving both countries forward together.
