Skopje, 14 July 2023 (MIA) — If Parliament adopts the constitutional amendments, the next step will be automatic, eliminating any possibility of veto, EU Ambassador David Geer told MIA in an interview.

"The door is open for moving forward for this country – but in order to go to the next step, the constitutional changes will need to be made. If they are made, then the next step would happen automatically, with no possibility of veto and no further decision taken," Ambassador Geer said.

Asked how political parties should reach a compromise on the amendments, Geer said a spirit of dialogue and cooperation should be encouraged between the parties in order to move forward.

"We have witnessed in this country very high polarization between the political parties. Almost all political parties state publicly and repeatedly that they are committed to the European Union path. And yet, when it comes down to practical cooperation, let’s say on legislation, which would advance the country and also be valuable for citizens, we’re not seeing that cooperation," the EU ambassador pointed out.

"Absolutely essential and the key to the constitutional changes and the key to moving forward and joining the European Union is consensus across the political divide," he said.

Geer added that when the proposed constitutional changes were published in their final form, it was important to discuss them openly. He said all politicians should be responsible and put the national interest first while looking at the final version to see what was actually being proposed.

"If, as we expect, it is indeed to include people who self-identify as Bulgarian within the Constitution, this would in a way make it explicit what is already implicit within the Constitution, and would further strengthen this country’s already good record of interethnic relations.

"I would not see it as against the national interest or threatening the identity of this country. But these are decisions for the country to make," Geer told MIA in the video interview, which will be published in its entirety on Saturday. mr/