site.btaReport on North Macedonia's Progress towards EU Membership Adopted in Strasbourg, Reactions

The European Parliament’s (EP) annual report on North Macedonia’s progress towards EU accession was adopted during a plenary session in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The report was voted with 461 in favour, 121 against and 107 abstained out of 689 EP members who voted. It is the first such report in the past three years.

Andrzej Halicki (European People's Party or EPP), Kathleen Van Brempt (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats or S&D), and Dan Barna (Renew Europe) tabled written amendments to remove references to language and identity from the report. One of the amendments they tabled, Amendment 21, which was voted on first, was adopted with 458 votes in favour, 109 against, and 118 abstentions. According to this amendment, the term “Macedonian language and identity” is deleted from the third paragraph. 

The draft report on the country's progress towards EU membership caused tension in Bulgaria because of the wording “Macedonian language and identity” contained therein. The report was approved by the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy on June 24, 2025, with 40 votes in favour, 19 against, and 10 abstentions. At that time, the Committee did not allow the EPP Group to table an oral amendment to the text to add “contemporary” before the words “Macedonian language and identity”. The EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, and the Greens announced that they would submit the same amendment in writing before the report is voted on in the plenary session in Strasbourg in July. 

The Foreign Ministry said in a position that it acknowledges the resolution adopted by a substantial majority in the European Parliament, which keeps the institution from getting involved in attempts at political instrumentalization by the Republic of North Macedonia, aimed at circumventing the commitments arising from what is known as the European compromise of 2022. In the context of EU enlargement, issues related to identity and language should be addressed within the framework of scholarly and academic discourse, as by their nature, they do not fall within the scope of the institutional assessment of candidate countries' progress based on objective and measurable accession criteria, the Foreign Ministry said. It welcomed the European Parliament’s resolution on North Macedonia, emphasizing its role as an impartial institution monitoring the country’s reform progress. The resolution highlights key areas such as the rule of law, fundamental rights, democratic institutions, and external influence, areas Skopje must prioritize to achieve lasting European integration. The Ministry reiterated Bulgaria’s support for the EU membership of Western Balkan countries, stressing adherence to objective criteria and the principle of own merit. It warned against using EU institutions for domestic political gains or deviating from established conditions, as such actions delay accession and damage trust and good neighbourly relations, which are essential to the EU integration process.

Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said that with its resolution on the annual report on North Macedonia’s progress towards EU membership, the European Parliament (EP) did not allow it to be instrumentalized for the purposes of the internal political debate of a candidate country. Georgiev thanked Bulgarian political party leaders, including GERB leader Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Bulgarian MEPs, and representatives of all parties who contributed efforts to ensure that reasonable arguments were heard. He stressed that such a report should not go beyond the EP competencies, and no legislative body can or should interpret topics related to scientific discussion. 

MP Stanislav Balabanov from There Is Such a People (TISP) told journalists in Parliament that Bulgaria has achieved a significant geopolitical victory by defending its national interest and blocking a backdoor attempt to include contested language in the European Parliament's annual report on North Macedonia’s EU accession progress. He described the outcome as a collective effort to protect Bulgaria’s position. "This is a huge success for Bulgaria, and this must be the standard going forward. North Macedonia must finally understand that we do not oppose their EU path in principle, but that it must be tied to the full implementation of the agreements we signed back in 2017," he stressed. 

"When Bulgaria is united, we can achieve results," GERB leader Boyko Borissov wrote on Facebook. Borissov extended a message to North Macedonia, saying: “Once again, I offer a hand of friendship—let’s move forward together, based on respect and full implementation of the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighbourliness, as well as the European consensus reached in 2022. In me, and in Bulgaria, North Macedonia will always find a sincere and close partner.” He also revealed that in recent weeks he had held multiple discussions with European leaders and representatives of leading EU political families. "I made it clear that European institutions and their documents must not be exploited for nationalist propaganda. They must serve truth and good neighborly relations. I am glad that Bulgaria’s voice was heard," Borissov wrote. 

Commenting on the European Parliament's resolution on North Macedonia's progress towards accession, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said in Parliament: "There are not many moments when we can demonstrate unity, but this is one of them. The [North] Macedonia issue has required and will always require national unity." "Thanks for the joint efforts of all groups in the European Parliament, Bulgaria ultimately succeeded in achieving something unprecedented and managed to assert its perspective. Congratulations are due to everyone who took part in this process because this is not a victory for the government, it is a victory for the entire Bulgarian people represented in the European Parliament," said Kostadinov. "This was a really powerful moment for us, and I hope there will be many more such moments to come." 

Bulgaria’s National Assembly Foreign Policy Committee Chair Yordanka Fandakova urged North Macedonia to heed the European Parliament (EP) call for the country to honour the commitments it has assumed on the path of European integration. In a Facebook post, Fandakova urged North Macedonia's authorities to stop engaging in populism and fulfill their EU commitments, particularly by recognizing Bulgarians in the country as an equal people in the Constitution. Fandakova praised Bulgarian MEPs for their united and principled efforts in amending the report and preventing its misuse for political purposes. She also highlighted the symbolic presence of Ljupcho Georgievski, a Bitola cultural club chair sentenced for quoting a historical figure, as a representation of the struggle for the right to self-identify as Bulgarian. She reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support for North Macedonia’s EU path but stressed that further progress depends on Skopje’s compliance with its obligations, calling on civil society to demand action.

The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, stated that Bulgaria’s goal is “the destruction of the Macedonian nation and identity.” At an extraordinary press conference held at the headquarters of VMRO-DPMNE, he said that Bulgaria is blocking North Macedonia’s EU integration - a process that, according to him, did not start today, but “back in 1990,” when Bulgaria made a gesture by recognizing the country’s independence but not its language or nation. Mickoski responded strongly to the removal of references to "Macedonian identity and language" from the European Parliament’s report on North Macedonia’s EU progress, calling it a deeply symbolic setback. He rejected the notion that the Bulgarian minority in North Macedonia is the core issue, saying the real problem lies in deeper geopolitical dynamics and Bulgaria’s actions within European institutions. Mickoski criticized what he called repeated concessions and humiliations endured by North Macedonia since 1990, including name and flag changes, which he said have been met with further demands rather than recognition or support. He warned against “corrupt leaders” who allow national values to be eroded. Despite these grievances, Mickoski reaffirmed North Macedonia’s commitment to its European path, calling EU membership a necessity. He stressed the importance of mutual respect, stating that Bulgaria must begin to respect North Macedonia if it hopes to build a genuine partnership. He vowed to defend national interests and to continue working with international allies to achieve EU integration.

Bulgarian MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk said that he believed that from the very beginning it was a mistake for issues like identity and language to appear in a political report. Kyuchyuk welcomed the removal of references to language and identity from the European Parliament’s report on North Macedonia, stating that the report should focus on political assessments, not historical disputes. He emphasized that the document is not intended to resolve the long-standing Macedonian question and praised its return to its proper scope. Regarding the prospect of EU accession talks beginning by 2027, Kyuchyuk said this depends entirely on North Macedonia’s political will. He noted that the French proposal, already accepted in Skopje, provides a framework, but real progress requires consensus between the government and opposition. Kyuchyuk highlighted that while meeting EU criteria is partly technical, accession is ultimately a political decision. He added that 2027 may be a more realistic target for Albania and Montenegro, whose negotiation processes are advancing steadily.

Bulgarian MEP Ivaylo Valchev welcomed the European Parliament’s decision to adopt North Macedonia’s progress report without references to “Macedonian language and identity,” stressing that the report should remain pragmatic, not ideological. He emphasized that identity issues have no place in such documents and that modern Bulgaria does not dispute its neighbor's current identity or language — only the political misuse of historical narratives. Valchev noted that the report paints a troubling picture of North Macedonia’s internal state, citing corruption, media freedom issues, and power concentration. He criticized what he saw as attempts to use the report to benefit Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s government ahead of upcoming local elections. He urged North Macedonia to take the report seriously, act on its findings, and honor existing agreements. While acknowledging that many citizens genuinely support EU integration, Valchev pointed to a growing disconnect between them and the ruling party, adding that it is ultimately up to North Macedonian voters to choose their path.

European Parliament Rapporteur on North Macedonia, Thomas Waitz (Greens, Austria), stated that while North Macedonia is a reliable partner in foreign and security policy, further reforms are essential for EU accession. Speaking at a press conference in Strasbourg, Waitz emphasized the need for progress in areas such as rule of law, judicial independence, anti-corruption efforts, and environmental standards. He noted that North Macedonia applied for EU membership 20 years ago but has yet to start formal negotiations, which has led to growing disappointment. Waitz reiterated that constitutional amendments to include Bulgarians as a recognized minority could unlock immediate progress in the accession talks. Environmental challenges were also highlighted, with Waitz citing major issues in waste and wastewater management, as well as persistent air pollution.

Vice President Iliana Iotova hailed the removal of references to language and identity from the European Parliament’s report on North Macedonia as a major success for Bulgaria. Speaking in Sopot, she thanked Bulgarian MEPs for their united efforts and credited the outcome to coordinated action across Bulgarian political parties and institutions. Iotova also acknowledged President Rumen Radev’s letter to EU leaders as a contributing factor. She emphasized that Bulgaria must now continue to defend the rights of its compatriots in North Macedonia with greater confidence and resolve.