site.btaAleksandar Nikoloski: Mariya Gabriel’s Recent Statement Confirms Possibility for New Veto

VMRO-DPMNE deputy leader and National European Integration Council Chair Aleksandar Nikoloski sees confirmation for a possible new veto in a recent statement by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel that the requirements North Macedonia must comply with include not only adoption of constitutional changes, but also compliance with the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation, and the two protocols, signed with Bulgaria.

„Mariya Gabriel, who will soon assume the office of prime minister of Bulgaria and is seen as one of the softer Bulgarian politicians and former EU commissioner, said that the French proposal contains three related conditions: adoption of constitutional changes, compliance with the Friendship Treaty, and the two protocols on history. This is what we have been saying for a year and a half. Even if the constitutional changes are voted through, without progress in relation to the two other conditions, there will be another Bulgarian veto, ” said Nikoloski, quoted by the Plus Info website.

Nikoloski spoke at the presentation of a study of the Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis, according to which support for the constitutional changes and the European Union in North Macedonia has dropped significantly. According to Nikoloski what is most concerning is that 50% of people aged 18-24 are Eurosceptics and 90% said that they would emigrate. 

Because of an unfulfilled condition to enter the Bulgarian community in its constitution, North Macedonia cannot open the negotiation chapters for EU membership. VMRO-DPMNE refuses to back the changes which have to pass on a two-thirds majority under “Bulgarian diktat”.