As Bulgarian media reported and confirmed Bulgarian MEPs, references to ‘Macedonian national identity’ and ‘Macedonian language’ From the plan of the annual progress report, which is to be examined and voted on by the European Parliament next week.

The Bulgarian MEP Andrei Kovachevin his post on social media he said:

“At the request of the European People’s Party Group, the three largest political groups in the European Parliament – the European People’s Party, the alliance of socialists and democrats, and Renew Europe – agreed on Wednesday night to remove the plan of the Macedonian Progress Exhibition on Wednesday. I expect this amendment to be supported by the majority in the EC next week, in plenary. “

According to the Andrei KovachevNational Identity and Language Issues do not have a position in an report on the progress of a country who is candidate for EU accession.

The evolution by removing the reports to “Macedonian national identity” and “Macedonian language” caused a strong reaction from the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia Christian Mitskoskiwho accused Bulgaria of using ‘Taliban’ methods.

“Macedonian identity and Macedonian language were removed by the methods referring to the Taliban. Unfortunately we experienced this as a people, in the 21st century » said the Christian Mitskoski.

Last week, the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee with 40 votes “in favor”, 19 “against” and 10 “present” approved the plan of the annual progress report on Northern Macedonia, in which references to “Macedonian national identity” and “Macedonian language”despite the strong reactions of the Bulgarian MEPs. The government of Northern Macedonia, commenting on the approval of the plan of the report by the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee had spoken of ‘Historical intersection’ and had expressed the ‘Great satisfaction’ her.

The rapporteur of the progress report on Northern Macedonia is Austrian MEP Thomas Vaic (Greens/ European Free Alliance). The Bulgarian government has accused Austrian MEP for “partiality”in favor of Skopje.

Northern Macedonia and Bulgaria have historical, national and linguistic differences that last for decades.

Bulgaria prevented the start of Northern Macedonia’s accession negotiations with the EU. In the summer of 2022, the then governments of the two countries, after the EU mediated, had reached a compromise, which foresaw that Bulgaria will lift the veto it has set at the start of Northern Macedonia’s accession negotiations with the EUafter first Skopje amended their constitution to include the Bulgarian minority living in the country.

The proposal was accepted by the previous center-left government of Northern Macedonia, but it was unable to secure a 2/3 majority in the House to modify the Constitution due to the opposition to the country’s right and current ruling party, VMRO-DPMNE of the Prime Minister’s VMRO-DPMNE. Christian Mitskoski. The latter states that his government does not accept the proposal and there will be no such amendment to the country’s constitution.

Both Brussels and Sofia have repeatedly stated, to Northern Macedonia that it will be able to open the funds of the EU accession negotiations, after first amending its constitution.

According to the latest population census held in Northern Macedonia, the Bulgarians account for only 0.2% of the country’s population (a total of 3,500 people), an element that the official Sofia disputes and considers that the percentage of Bulgarians in Northern Macedonia is far higher.

Northern Macedonia’s problematic relations with Bulgaria have worsened in particular by taking power in Skopje by VMRO-DPMNE a year ago.