Protesters block the streets on Friday in Skopje. The protests were against the compromise made with Bulgaria, which would enable the candidate country North Macedonia to start EU membership negotiations.
EU membership is sought in North Macedonia. However, some of the residents of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia do not want to join the Union at any cost.
The deal negotiated with Bulgaria is a price protesters gathered in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje do not want to pay. Hundreds of protesters drove their cars in front of the central government buildings, blocking traffic.
Demonstrations have been organized throughout this week. Today, Friday, the demonstrations went peacefully. In previous days, at least ten protesters and several policemen have been injured in clashes.
Ukraine raised the Balkan membership aspirations
North Macedonia has been an EU candidate country for 17 years. Its path towards the start of negotiations has been quite rocky. First, the negotiations were blocked by Greece and now by Bulgaria, which wants North Macedonia to recognize the status of the Bulgarian minority and the Bulgarian language.
The dispute with Greece was resolved in 2017. At that time, Macedonia changed its name to North Macedonia. The ajar EU door closed again when EU member Greece used its veto in 2020. According to Bulgaria’s interpretation, North Macedonia threatens the national identity of Bulgarians.
France worked on the treaty proposal
France, which finished its EU presidency at the end of June, had a settlement proposal to resolve the dispute between Bulgaria and North Macedonia turned in the last meters of its presidency.
According to it, the constitution of North Macedonia would be amended to recognize the Bulgarian minority. Other points of contention would be settled in the negotiations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. The French model does not oblige Bulgaria to recognize the Macedonian language.
Bulgaria’s parliament overturned the veto in June, and unrest broke out in the country. The government fell in a vote of confidence.
In North Macedonia, the parliament will discuss the reconciliation proposal next week. The Macedonians who demonstrated in the streets are not ready to accept a compromise.
– We will never, never accept the contract. It is against national interest and our identity, sayo Hristijan Mickoski. He leads the largest opposition party in the country. The VMRO-DPMNE party has a positive attitude towards Europe, but does not want to side with Bulgaria in the dispute.
North Macedonia joined NATO in 2020.