German Ambassador Anke Holstein denied media reports that the introduction of historic requirements in the EU enlargement package will represent a new condition for Macedonia. In a statement for Deutsche Welle, Holstein said that the criteria was also used in 2018, and will apply both to Macedonia, but also to Bulgaria and Greece, even though given the power the latter two countries have in the EU, that’s unlikely to be the case.

The clause condemns attempts for misinterpretation of history, which is a charge Greece and Bulgaria frequently aim at Macedonia. Holstein focused on the positive, saying that the German Presidency at least managed to get Bulgaria to agree to the enlargement package – even though that doesn’t lift Bulgaria’s veto for Macedonia’s EU accession talks, it shows that “the enlargement continues”, she said.

The German Ambassador acknowledged that the outcome is a blow for the country and that she regrets that Germany failed to keep its promise. “We tried hard but we failed to keep the promise made in March”, Holstein said. 

She congratulated the Macedonian Government for the way it conducted itself in the difficult situation with Bulgaria, saying it helps keep open the perspective for enlargement in the future.