Bulgaria’s new government is set to fast-track North Macedonia’s EU accession through measures that should help Sofia lift its current veto, but there are still a few potential bumps in the road.
The new Prime Minister Kiri Petkov told the Financial Times that a “new process” would be proposed that would be “very fast” and “with a limited time frame, just six months long.”
According to reports, Petkov has already met with acting Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev to find common ground.
“We agreed to continue working on finding an acceptable solution to unblock the procedure for the start of negotiations for North Macedonia’s EU membership and for a new positive impetus to strengthen bilateral relations between our two countries,” Zaev posted on Facebook.
Petkov was sworn in as prime minister earlier this week and after the very first cabinet session, he told the press that the two countries would establish working groups to focus on economy, common history, infrastructure, and culture.
“We will make an action plan in early January for these working groups to have real results with the aim to move forward in the negotiations,” Petkov said.
Speaking to Exit’s media partner EURACTIV.com, a Macedonian source confirmed that the winds of change were already being felt.
“We think the new government (in Bulgaria) is open to constructive dialogue,” the source said.
While this seems like good news, apparently it does not have the support of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. Information obtained by EURACTIV Bulgaria said that Radev has no plans for giving ground to Skopje before the concerns of Sofia are addressed.
A too-soft approach towards North Macedonia would not be politically popular in Bulgaria and the new government are unlikely to want to rock the boat, following three parliamentary elections in less than a year.
A recent poll conducted by Gallup found that citizens are not in a hurry to lift the veto. Only 7.5% of Bulgarians give priority to North Macedonia’s EU membership. Gallup’s research this year shows that the position of Bulgarians is becoming tougher. In June, 57.9% of Bulgarians said that settling relations between the two countries was of paramount importance.
In the summer, another Gallup poll found that 70% of Bulgarians opposed lifting the veto if Skopje does not accept Sofia’s terms. Only 19.3% were in favour of a Bulgarian compromise.
Bulgarian Citizens Oppose Concessions to Skopje Before Cultural Issues Are Resolved
