The outcome of the European Council, where Macedonia was again denied the right to open its EU accession talks, shows that Zoran Zaev was misleading the public when he was announcing a new French initiative to break the deadlock with Bulgaria.

The announcements were leaked several months ago, and were then cited by member of Parliament Kastriot Rexhepi, whose alleged kidnapping prevented the vote of no confidence in the Zaev Government. After he finally resurfaced, Rexhepi claimed that his wife heard announcements on the TV that Macron will intervene and get Bulgaria to lift its veto, and this is why he chose not to support the fall of the Zaev regime.

France obviously did not push (hard enough) to force Bulgaria to lift the veto. The country now takes over the rotating Presidency of the European Union, but with its presidential elections due next year, it’s very unlikely it will be in a position to get more involved, especially considering that France itself blocked the opening of accession talks in 2019, when Macedonia was expecting a major reward for the imposed Prespa Treaty.