A dispute between the government and opposition in North Macedonia over European Union integration intensified on Tuesday, with opposition leader Venko Filipce announcing plans to send letters to EU officials criticising Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski.
Filipce, head of the opposition SDSM party, said he would address ambassadors and senior officials from the European Union and NATO, accusing the government of “systematically dismantling” the country’s Euro-Atlantic path through its policies and rhetoric.
“This is a deliberate attempt to undermine the country’s strategic goal of EU integration while sabotaging the fundamental national interest of Euro-Atlantic integration,” Filipce said.
The move comes amid a months-long stalemate in accession talks, with both the government and opposition accusing each other of blocking the country’s European future.
Mickoski reiterated that his government would not compromise on constitutional changes linked to the dispute with Bulgaria, insisting on guarantees for the rights of the Macedonian community there.
“We will not move an inch. If not us, then those who come after us will continue this position,” Mickoski said.
Filipce said the government’s stance risks isolating the country and delaying reforms, arguing that EU integration is essential for tackling corruption and strengthening institutions.
He added that the Macedonian language and identity are already safeguarded, including through agreements such as the one with Frontex, and warned that failure to seize the current opportunity could mean missing the next wave of EU enlargement.
Mickoski rejected the accusations, describing the opposition’s approach as weak and harmful to national interests, and said no progress would be made without clear guarantees.
The dispute highlights deep political divisions over the terms and pace of North Macedonia’s EU accession process.