Macedonians protest against French proposals for solving EU rift with Bulgaria

EU member Bulgaria has insisted that North Macedonia recognise its language has Bulgarian roots and acknowledge in its constitution a Bulgarian minority

North Macedonia’s main opposition party rejects the proposition, arguing it favours Bulgarian demands that dispute Macedonian history, language and identity

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A protester wearing a shirt, reading in Macedonian “Macedonia is alive” attends a protest in front of the government building in Skopje, North Macedonia on Saturday. Photo: AP

Published: 5:11am, 3 Jul 2022

Tens of thousands massed outside government offices in Skopje, North Macedonia late on Saturday to protest against a French proposal for solving the country’s dispute with Bulgaria that is blocking membership talks with the European Union.

North Macedonia’s government has said the proposal is a “solid base.” But the main opposition centre-right VMRO-DPMNE party rejects the proposition, arguing it favours Bulgarian demands that dispute Macedonian history, language, identity, culture and inheritance.

“We do not need Europe if we have to be assimilated,” opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski told reporters before the start of the protest. “The answer is no for the latest French proposal.”

People wave the old and the current national flags of Macedonia as they attend a protest in front of the government building in Skopje, North Macedonia on Saturday. Photo: AP

“If Europe is not ready to accept us civilised Macedonians where we belong, then we will wait until there are people who will understand that Macedonia and Macedonian identity is above and before all,” he added.

Bulgaria, a member of the EU, has insisted that North Macedonia formally recognise that its language has Bulgarian roots, acknowledge in its constitution a Bulgarian minority and quash “hate speech” against Bulgaria.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced earlier this week at the Nato summit in Madrid that he believed “a compromise solution” had been achieved, without giving details. “I’m convinced we have found a compromise solution,” he said.

North Macedonia’s foreign minister, Bujar Osmani, said that “Macedonian language and identity” are protected by the French proposal and “it should be accepted as soon as possible” for the country to start the accession talks with the EU.