Skopje, 11 June 2026 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said there are no new demands from Bulgaria for unblocking the country’s EU integration, stressing that these demands date back to 2022. He added that they have waited three years for the whole of Europe and the world, as well as citizens who were victims of the manipulative policies of certain individuals, to hear them. He remains optimistic and said that what was discussed during his meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron is completely different from what was discussed at the meeting between President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and her Bulgarian counterpart Iliana Iotova in Sofia on Wednesday.

Mickoski said that we must remain optimistic and continue working, while at the same time protecting Macedonian national interests, adding that in parliamentary elections citizens will choose between those he said destroyed Macedonia and the government’s new concept based on national interests.

“Macedonian citizens must know that the demands are not limited only to a constitutional change and the inclusion of the Bulgarian community in the preamble. No. That is only the beginning, we are only opening Pandora’s box. An action plan follows, as well as the work of the historical commission and Protocol 2, where the work of the commission is only one of the requirements. There are maybe around fifteen new demands that we as a state must fulfil. So, there is nothing different from what we are hearing today, which is the same as what we have been hearing continuously and what, unfortunately, the previous government accepted in 2022,” Mickoski said in response to a journalist question after the opening of the Rasadnik sports hall in Kisela Voda.

Mickoski said these are demands that were already seen in 2022, which is why they stated that they are against them.

“We have waited four years, or to be more precise three years, for these demands to be heard by the whole of Europe, the world, and also by those citizens who, unfortunately, were victims of the manipulative policies of certain individuals. These are not new demands, these are the same demands. The work of the historical commission is not formal but essential. For them, the work of the historical commission is essential. We do not share the same view on identity issues. For us, Goce Delchev is part of the Macedonian identity; for them, he is part of the Bulgarian identity. For us, the Ilinden Uprising is part of the Macedonian identity; for them, it is not, they consider it the Preobrazhenie Uprising. These are fundamental issues that, unfortunately, have been present since 2022. These are not new demands,” Mickoski stated.

“I understand that someone feels the need to manipulate because they signed a capitulation, because they were politically unsuccessful, because they were nationally weakened, because they were burdened with crime and corruption, and were ready to sign a blank sheet of paper and accept everything,” he added.

He stressed that he remains optimistic regarding the talks he had with Chancellor Merz and French President Macron, noting that what was discussed at that meeting is completely different from what was discussed at yesterday’s meeting in Sofia.

“We must be optimistic and work, while at the same time protecting Macedonian national interests. We must not enter into adventures, nor be desperate or drowning, as the previous government did, which, unfortunately, is the last remaining defender of what was accepted in 2022 and represents the only loyal positions of our eastern neighbour’s current policy within Macedonia. But soon, we are already in the second half of our mandate, and we will have parliamentary elections, so let the citizens decide. Citizens should choose whether those who, capitulated, looted, impoverished and destroyed Macedonia should win even a single parliamentary seat, or whether it should be us offering a completely new concept based on hard work and an uncompromising fight and a clear stance on national interests,” Mickoski said.

Photo: MIA