Foreign Ministers of the EU member states are meeting today at the start of the European Council, in a meeting where it is expected that they will again block the opening of EU accession talks with Macedonia. Bulgaria is vetoing the accession talks as it demands major new concessions from Macedonia in the area of national identity and history.

The recommendations already call on Macedonia to fully respect the treaties with Greece and Bulgaria, but Bulgaria wants to make the 2018 Zaev – Borisov treaty a formal part of the accession talks. This would mean that it can raise numerous demands from Macedonia in the course of the accession talks, while having the full weight of the EU behind them.

Due to disputes over Bosnia and Turkey, it’s possible that the European Council will not reach any enlargement conclusions at all. Albania is also likely to be blocked, along with Macedonia, as we are placed in an informal enlargement group.