Skopje, 12 June 2025 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told an Alsat TV interview on Thursday evening the so-called “French proposal” was not in the interest of the citizens, stressing that it made the path to the European Union more difficult and “almost impossible”.

“Unfortunately, that proposal is anything but in the interest of all citizens of Macedonia. I am not referring to Macedonians or Albanians, because all of us, regardless of our ethnicity and religion, share the common goal of becoming a part of the European family. This path was made more difficult, and I must say it became almost impossible,” Mickoski said.

Asked whether the recent statement by Bulgaria's Minister of Foreign Affairs – guaranteeing that Sofia will not impose new demands and that only the constitutional changes remain as an obstacle – gives him hope, Mickoski pointed out that the same minister had stated a few months earlier that the constitutional changes would be just the beginning.

“Who should we believe now? The same foreign minister from two-three months ago or the one now, or perhaps some future minister who will also have a different statement for daily political reasons,” Mickoski said, adding that things are “very clear”.

The Prime Minister said the previous Government “embarked on an adventure thinking that if they sign everything that is placed in front of them, they will receive support from abroad to remain in power”.

“This was the motive of Marichikj, Kovachevski, I assume of Stevo Pendarovski and Bujar Osmani as well. The issue was whether they would remain in power and continue with the crime through which they ruled or lose power and end up in the opposition where they are now. These were their motives,” Mickoski said.

Talking about Bulgaria’s “motives”, the Prime Minister said they are decades-old motives “to create a new, artificial Macedonian identity” and “a new artificial Macedonian language that rests on Bulgarian roots”.

“Our motive is completely different, Macedonia – the shared country of the Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Vlachs, Roma, the Bosniaks, of all citizens – joining the European Union in a dignified way. This is the difference between us and them,” Mickoski said.

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