Brussels, 8 July 2025 (MIA) -- The European Parliament reiterates its full support for North Macedonia’s continued commitment to joining the EU and for the changes required to fulfil the accession criteria, according to EP's rapporteur Thomas Waitz's draft report on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on North Macedonia, which the EP will debate on during its plenary session Tuesday.

 

The Austrian MEP's draft report also commends the country’s commitment to EU integration and encourages continued efforts in advancing EU-aligned reforms "despite the challenges and setbacks that have tested the patience and trust of the Macedonian society."

 

However, the draft report notes that according to the EU Council's July 2022 conclusions "North Macedonia needs to adopt the outstanding constitutional changes, in line with its commitments, so that the opening phase of accession negotiations can be completed immediately."

 

It adds that "North Macedonia’s authorities have proposed solutions for constitutional change that did not meet the conditions of the July 2022 Council conclusions."

 

Further, it notes that "the Council has not excluded unequivocally the adoption of further new conditions for the starting of accession negotiations."

 

It also notes that "the EU has consistently demonstrated its recognition of the Macedonian language and identity." 

 

However, Bulgarian MEP Ivaylo Valchev, on behalf of the ECR Group, submitted amendments requesting the word contemporary precede the phrase Macedonian language and identity in all instances of the phrase.

 

In response, MEPs Andrzej Halicki on behalf of the PPE Group, Kathleen Van Brempt on behalf of the S&D Group and Dan Barna on behalf of the Renew Group submitted an amendment to completely delete the mention of the Macedonian language and identity.

 

 

Waitz submitted an amendment pointing out that "matters of language, identity and culture are inherently sensitive, especially in contexts involving complex historical narratives and newly independent states."

 

He also submitted an amendment acknowledging "the existence of differing interpretations concerning the origins of the Macedonian language and identity," underscoring that the EP's report "does not aim to prejudge or constrain scholarly discourse on these matters nor do such interpretations bear influence on Parliament’s assessment of North Macedonia’s progress towards EU accession."

 

In his explanatory statement to the report, the EP's rapporteur recalls that North Macedonia obtained candidate status in 2005 and highlights the country's "historic name change" as part of its "impressive and difficult reforms."

 

Despite this, he adds, "its accession process has been obstructed for far too long due to bilateral disputes."

  

 

"In 2022, to overcome Bulgaria’s veto on accession talks, the EU included Bulgaria’s demands in the Council conclusions related to North Macedonia’s accession, with the EU acting as guarantor of their implementation," he says.

 

"The so-called French proposal, however, set a concerning precedent by allowing the accession process to be used for resolving cultural and historical disputes."

 

Waitz notes that this agreement led to the lifting of the veto, the first Intergovernmental Conference on July 19, 2022, and the start of screening. It also required North Macedonia to amend its Constitution to include the Bulgarian minority.

 

He says screening sessions for all six clusters were completed by Dec. 7, 2023, and confirms that the country will be able to move to the next phase of negotiations once the constitutional amendments are adopted.

 

 

"Years of setbacks and unfulfilled promises have understandably led to frustration, disappointment and a continuous decline in public support for EU integration in North Macedonia," the rapporteur writes. 

 

"However, amid these times of major shifts in the international world order as Europe knows it, there is a renewed sense of urgency and an important opportunity to advance the accession process," he writes, urging all political stakeholders, particularly the ruling coalition and the government, to engage in constructive dialogue to achieve consensus on the required constitutional amendments.

 

He also urges the EU and its member states to fully support this endeavor, "including providing assurances that the constitutional changes will not lead to further bilateral demands."

 

After the Tuesday debate, MEPs are set to vote on the draft report Wednesday. mr/