North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova has welcomed Austria’s offer to host a new round of talks with Bulgaria in a bid to unlock the country’s stalled path toward EU membership, describing it as an opportunity for “creative diplomacy.”
In an interview with Radio Free Europe, Siljanovska-Davkova said Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger proposed Vienna as a potential venue for dialogue aimed at resolving disputes with Bulgaria, which have blocked North Macedonia’s EU accession progress.
“Austria considers EU enlargement a priority at this moment. It is ready to facilitate a creative solution with Bulgaria,” Siljanovska-Davkova said, suggesting the move could revive the process without breaching the existing negotiation framework with Brussels.
While expressing doubts over the feasibility of fast-track constitutional changes, Siljanovska-Davkova said Austria could act as a credible mediator to rebuild trust between Skopje and Sofia and inject new momentum into the EU integration process.
No Guarantee on Constitutional Amendments
Siljanovska-Davkova said she could not guarantee parliamentary approval of the constitutional amendments that include recognition of the Bulgarian minority in the preamble. The president emphasized the issue lies in the hands of lawmakers.
“I am not an absolute monarch. MPs vote according to their convictions. The constitutional amendments are not part of the Good Neighbourly Agreement with Bulgaria, but stem from the bilateral protocols,” she stated.
‘EU Must Show Flexibility’
The president called on the European Parliament or the EU Council to issue political acts recommending a flexible interpretation of contentious points in the negotiating process. She compared the situation to historic reconciliations between France and Germany, and Poland and Germany.
“This is not theoretical. It’s a real option under EU legal instruments. Energy to resolve the issue must come from both sides,” she said, adding that a third protocol with Bulgaria — not linked to a potential veto — could be negotiated.
UK Deal ‘Not a Plan B’
Commenting on North Macedonia’s strategic partnership deal with the United Kingdom, Siljanovska-Davkova stressed it cannot be viewed as an alternative to EU membership. The €6 billion deal is aimed primarily at infrastructure and investment and falls under the government’s authority, she said.
“We are not seeking a ‘Plan B.’ The UK is engaging with us in the context of our unfinished EU integration,” the president noted.
Consultations with Government, Response to Opposition Criticism
Siljanovska-Davkova said she regularly coordinates with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on foreign policy matters and had vetoed one law over the past year while frequently offering institutional recommendations.
Responding to criticism from the opposition DUI party over alleged neglect of ethnic representation mechanisms, the president said she acts strictly within the constitution and ensures appointments under her authority reflect fair representation.