Bulgarian Parliament’s Stance on North Macedonia to Influence EU Accession Talks
In a significant development, the Bulgarian Parliament’s recent resolution on North Macedonia is set to impact the European Union’s accession talks with the country. According to Stanislav Balabanov, MP of There Is Such a People (TISP), the rapporteur on North Macedonia’s progress towards EU accession, Thomas Waitz, will have to reconsider his stance.
At a news conference held with Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev and other MPs, Balabanov stated, "Let him [Waitz] draw his own conclusions, along with the people who thought they could exert influence. We will see the outcome very soon." The TISP MP emphasised that the resolution voted by the Bulgarian Parliament serves as the basis for defending the country’s national interest regarding North Macedonia.
The resolution, which was supported by the government coalition including TISP, sends a strong message that Bulgaria will not compromise on its stance regarding North Macedonia. As Balabanov noted, "The resolution voted by the Bulgarian Parliament is the basis for stating very clearly that we will defend to the very end the Bulgarian national interest regarding the issue of the Republic of North Macedonia, and we will not budge on this point." He also expressed hope that when North Macedonia meets all the criteria set by Bulgaria, they will be able to discuss other issues.
The development comes after the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee decided to postpone the vote on Thomas Waitz’s report on North Macedonia’s progress towards EU accession. The vote has been rescheduled for June 24 in the parliamentary committee and July in the European Parliament plenary. This decision was made in response to a letter from all Bulgarian MEPs expressing concerns about the report and citing irregularities, including leaks of confidential information to officials in Skopje.
The postponement of the vote has significant implications for North Macedonia’s EU accession talks. As reported by BTA, the Bulgarian News Agency, the country’s progress towards EU accession has been a contentious issue. The agency quoted Thomas Waitz, stating, "There was quite intensive political debate around this report. I must say that I absolutely stand behind my report. All groups have been involved into the negotiations. All groups have participated in forming these compromises. This is a report of the European Parliament and the EU to the state of accession when it comes to the country of North Macedonia. This report is not there to solve bilateral issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. But the treatment of minorities is a European issue."
The Bulgarian Parliament’s stance on North Macedonia has sparked a renewed debate on the country’s EU accession talks. As BTA reported, the country’s progress towards EU accession has been impacted by its relations with Bulgaria. The agency quoted Stanislav Balabanov, MP of There Is Such a People (TISP), as saying that the Bulgarian Parliament’s resolution will serve as a basis for defending the country’s national interest.
In conclusion, the Bulgarian Parliament’s stance on North Macedonia is set to influence EU accession talks. The country’s national interest will be defended, and the rapporteur on North Macedonia’s progress towards EU accession, Thomas Waitz, will have to reconsider his stance. As reported by BTA, the development has significant implications for North Macedonia’s EU accession talks.
The influence of BTA reports that "There Is Such a People" party considers that rapporteur on North Macedonia’s to reconsider.
