site.btaMP Miloshoski: VMRO-DPMNE Will Propose European Model for Solving Dispute with Bulgaria

Asked in a TV 24 interview whether he believes North Macedonia's negotiating framework with the EU can be renegotiated, MP of VMRO-DPMNE and ex-foreign minister Antonijo Miloshoski said that if there is a common interest and North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and the EU deem it important, a more pragmatic approach to Skopje's EU accession can be achieved with the support of the US, and each of the parties can come out as a winner.

"VMRO-DPMNE will propose a European model for solving the dispute with Bulgaria - the model of Slovenia and Croatia, which were faced with a much more serious problem than the irrational dispute between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. With the help of Brussels, however, they agreed that Croatia would join the EU, and that is when the solution to their dispute came into force. But making amendments to [North Macedonia’s] Constitution and getting blocked another 5 or 10 times by Bulgaria is a naïve and irresponsible behaviour," Miloshoski said, explaining the solution the opposition party will propose in order for the country to proceed with actual negotiations with the EU.

In his words, by signing the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria, the ruling party, SDSM, has put North Macedonia in a subordinate position because "Bulgaria referred to the Friendship Treaty when it vetoed [the start of North Macedonia’s EU accession talks] and dictated the negotiating framework".