North Macedonia's Deputy PM on Bulgaria's EU Membership Veto and Strategic Connectivity

EU Membership Stalled by Bulgarian Veto

• 💡 North Macedonia, despite being granted EU candidate status nearly 20 years ago alongside Croatia, has yet to formally open any negotiating chapters.
• 🎯 The country has faced repeated delays, with initial blockages from Greece resolved in 2018, followed by a veto from France in 2019.
• 🔑 Since 2020, Bulgaria has imposed a veto, which Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski describes as an abuse of position to pressure North Macedonia on historical narratives and self-identification.
• ⚠️ Bulgaria's demands include incorporating Bulgarians into constitutional amendments and altering the official language to 'modern Macedonian,' which Nikoloski argues negates the language's history and the nation's heritage.
• ⚖️ Nikoloski points out that Bulgaria is not implementing 14 European Court of Human Rights decisions concerning the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria while simultaneously blocking North Macedonia's EU path.

Addressing Domestic Reforms and Corruption

• 📈 North Macedonia is presented as a strong performer in reforms within the Western Balkans, particularly concerning the EU growth plan.
• 🔍 However, the European Parliament has noted worsening trends in high-level corruption and low public trust in the judiciary, with public trust currently at only 2%.
• ✅ The government acknowledges these challenges and is undertaking significant reforms in the judiciary and prosecution, working with expertise from the European Commission.

Strategic Importance and Connectivity Projects

• 🌍 North Macedonia holds a unique geographical position, with two crucial pan-European corridors intersecting near Skopje.
• 🚀 Corridor 10, a vital trade route connecting Greek ports to Central Europe, and Corridor 8, linking the Adriatic to the Black Sea and serving as a key NATO supply route to Ukraine, are being developed.
• 💰 The country is investing heavily in infrastructure, including highways and high-speed railways, with plans exceeding domestic economic capacity, leading to a search for international partnerships.
• 🤝 Government-to-government agreements, such as a £5 billion deal with the United Kingdom, are being pursued for these large-scale projects, with similar partnerships sought in France and other European countries.

Public Support and Geopolitical Influence

• 📊 Despite the prolonged EU accession process and external pressures, public support for EU and NATO membership in North Macedonia remains very high.
• 🇷🇺 Nikoloski suggests that Bulgaria's actions, by focusing on national identity issues, inadvertently serve Russia's interests by undermining EU influence.
• 🇺🇸 The country maintains strong strategic partnerships with the United States and the United Kingdom, reinforcing its Western orientation.