Sofia, 9 August 2023 (MIA) - North Macedonia cannot start the EU accession negotiations without implementing the required reforms, says Bulgarian Member of European Parliament (MEP) and country rapporteur, Ilhan Kyuchyuk.

MEP Kyuchyuk told BGNES the country cannot start the EU accession negotiations unless it changes its Constitution, risks decoupling from Albania on the EU path and remaining in the same group with Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina - countries that have serious problems with neighbors.

"On the other hand, there is the geopolitical challenge and the possibility of Ukraine starting the EU talks. Therefore, the choice is very clear - does North Macedonia want to continue to its path through reforms or join another group that has no clear roadmap towards the EU," says Kyuchyuk and adds that the decision is in the hands of the Macedonian politicians.

According to him, there is no unity in the Macedonian Parliament over the EU accession, and fear is used instead.

"No one is setting additional conditions (to Skopje). These are the conditions that both Bulgaria and North Macedonia agreed on and voted in both parliaments. These agreements must be fulfilled," says Kyuchyuk, who is co-president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

Photo: MIA archive