Sofia, 18 August 2023 (MIA) – The constitutional amendments are not a dictate from Bulgaria, but rules agreed with the EU which North Macedonia must follow, said Bulgarian Member of European Parliament (MEP) and the Parliament’s rapporteur on North Macedonia, Ilhan Kyuchyuk.

In an interview for BNR ahead of today’s session in the Macedonian Parliament, Kyuchyuk said that the set conditions are not Bulgarian, but European, adding that both Bulgaria and North Macedonia, as well as their parliaments, accepted them during the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

“There won’t be a change in the EU’s position – there is no desire for that, neither the Commission nor the Council will commit themselves to changing the rules a few months ahead of the European [Parliament] elections. These are the rules, they have been agreed and now everyone must comply with them. Secondly, there won’t be a better proposal, because this is the best one. No one is setting additional conditions. This is not a Bulgarian dictate, these are European rules that North Macedonia must follow,” said Kyuchyuk.

According to Kyuchyuk, all of this requires political effort and a desire for the country to move in a certain direction.

“North Macedonia is our neighbor and Bulgaria’s strategic interest should be for us to be in NATO and the EU together. This is the future. But, this is exclusively North Macedonia’s choice. If VMRO-DPMNE does not want to be on the side of North Macedonia’s Europeanization, it is their responsibility, but, unfortunately, this will block Skopje’s EU path in the long-term and open up the possibility for Albania’s decoupling from North Macedonia,” stressed Kyuchyuk.

Kyuchyuk said he agrees with Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski that in case of failure, the reasons for it should exclusively be sought in Skopje.

“There has to be a clear political sign, i.e., united efforts from everyone. The debate can and must be fierce when it comes to internal political issues, but when it comes to the pillars of integration, NATO and EU – there should only be a single position, following the country’s strategic priorities. This is the Bulgarian example as well,” Kyuchyuk noted.

Asked about the disagreements over historical issues, Kyuchyuk said history should be left to the historians, while the politicians should focus on the future.

“Today’s political elites in Bulgaria and North Macedonia have many different things to decide when it comes to the future. Including business relations, culture, education… everything that must be done, so the two countries can get closer, considering their joint past, so they can seek a joint future within the EU. This is in the interest of both countries,” said Kyuchyuk.