Following the COREPER meeting in Brussels, the Macedonian Government again expressed its disappointment in the fact that Bulgaria continues to block the opening of EU accession talks with Macedonia.

Unfortunately, the Bulgarian veto was confirmed. It does not allow our country to open EU accession talks, even though, according to the reports from all relevant European institutions we met all criteria to have the negotiating framework accepted and to hold the first intra-governmental conference and open the accession talks. We delivered, but the EU did not keep its promises, and in this instance we did not receive the right answer. Bulgaria and the EU are repeating their mistake with regard to Macedonia. The historic mistake of 2019 is now a huge geo-strategic mistake of the EU, the Zaev Government said in a press release issued yesterday evening.

Bulgaria reportedly agreed to the enlargement package conclusions, in exchange from commitment from the EU that it will introduce the “reading of history” as a criteria upon which Macedonia will be evaluated. But this does not extend to agreeing to open the EU accession talks. 

In its statement, the Zaev Government insists that the hopes and expectations of Macedonian citizens were encouraged by the EU and individual member states, only to be betrayed.

The confidence of many citizens of many countries of the western Balkans has now been shaken. This mistake will motivate even stronger penetration of third parties into the heart of Europe. The demands from Bulgaria are not a surprise, but their persistence in insisting on positions that have nothing to do with the strategically important issue of EU enlargement will not change our position that there can be negotiations on identity issues, the Zaev Government adds.

The Government also insists that there is no need for a new treaty with Bulgaria or adding annexes on the 2017 treaty. According to the Government, it remains open for dialogue with Sofia, to clarify open issues, and it will fight hate speech and provocations. But, “Our positions are that we are Macedonians who speak the Macedonian language. The Macedonian identity is non-negotiable”.

This is the second similarly worded statement from the Government. At the same time Zaev sent mixed signals to Bulgaria with his BGNES interview, in which he accepted practically all Bulgarian positions on issues of history and national identity. Zaev’s Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Dimitrov has reportedly been briefing the press that Zaev was willing to sign an annex to his 2017 treaty with Boyko Borisov, but that Dimitrov persuaded him not to.