Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has reiterated that North Macedonia’s progress toward the European Union depends on the inclusion of Bulgarians in the country’s Constitution, saying the step would accelerate its EU path. Speaking at a meeting with representatives of Bulgarian community organizations from several Macedonian cities, Radev said he expected the constitutional changes to be completed “as soon as possible” to avoid further delays in accession talks.
“European integration for North Macedonia is a shared goal, but it cannot come at the expense of the rights of the Bulgarian community,” Radev said, adding that every democratic state is obliged to guarantee equality and the right to self-identification for all its citizens. His remarks echoed Sofia’s long-standing position that it will assess Skopje’s progress through the status and protection of those who identify as Bulgarians.
Radev also referred to the so-called “European compromise” reached in 2022, when North Macedonia accepted a package of Council conclusions and a bilateral protocol with Bulgaria as the framework for opening EU accession negotiations. The inclusion of Bulgarians in the Constitution’s preamble was set as a precondition for moving to the next phase of the process, including the opening of new clusters and chapters.
While the constitutional amendments remain a subject of intense political debate in Skopje – split between those who view them as a minimal European requirement and those who see a broader identity concession – expectations in Sofia remain unchanged. Bulgarian officials say they expect institutions in North Macedonia to deliver what was agreed.
Radev told representatives of the Bulgarian community that Bulgaria “is not withdrawing” its support for North Macedonia’s EU membership, but stressed that this support will remain linked to concrete steps to safeguard their rights.
The constitutional changes therefore remain a key test – both of North Macedonia’s ability to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority and of Bulgaria’s readiness to lift its veto on the next stage of the country’s EU accession process.