Brussels, 4 June 2025 (MIA) – EP rapporteur for the country, MEP Thomas Waitz has proposed that the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) should postpone voting on the country’s report. The vote has been rescheduled for June 24.

According to MIA’s Brussels correspondent, in his clarification of the postponement proposal Waitz said everyone has witnessed intensive political debates around the report, but stressed he absolutely stands behind the document, noting that all EP groups have been involved in the negotiations and compromises.

“This is a report of the European Parliament and the European Union to the state of accession when it comes to the country of North Macedonia. This report is not intending or is not there to solve bilateral issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, still we know that also bilateral relations but also the rule of law, treatment of minorities, communities and so on, is a European issue. However, I would like to ask for a postponement of the vote for this report to June 24,” Waitz said.

He stressed the goal of the proposal is to give an opportunity to his colleagues from the Parliament, especially the members of the right-wing groups European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) “to update their lobby register”.

Waitz directly addressed Bulgarian MEP Ivaylo Valchev from There is Such a People (ITN), a member of ECR, noting that he only announced three lobby meetings in his register during the entire term.

“I know sometimes we are a bit overburdened with work in our offices, and I want to give you the opportunity to update your lobby register and I would like to find you back voting for this report on the 24th of June,” Waitz added.

AFET chairman, German MEP David McAllister, accepted the proposal, postponing the vote on the document for June 24.

Photo: MIA Archive