European lawmakers on Tuesday called for urgent action to counter foreign influence in North Macedonia, singling out Serbia, China and Russia as destabilizing actors, while warning that the country’s EU path is being derailed by nationalist rhetoric and political sabotage.
“We are seeing far too much foreign interference in North Macedonia. We must fight back against it – whether it comes from Serbia, China or Russia,” said Thomas Waitz, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on North Macedonia, during a heated debate in Strasbourg ahead of a vote on the country’s progress report.
Waitz underlined that the report includes a condition to amend the Constitution to explicitly recognize the Bulgarian minority, while also urging stronger rule of law, media freedom, and a crackdown on hate speech and corruption.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos echoed that message, stating: “The only way forward – above all – is constitutional change.” She urged authorities in Skopje to uphold fundamental rights and freedom of expression.
The debate saw a sharp intervention from Bulgarian MEP Ivaylo Valchev (ITN, ECR), who accused North Macedonia’s authorities of suppressing citizens of Bulgarian identity and breaking international agreements.
“In what country is someone prosecuted for quoting historical figures? Where are people attacked because of their origin? What kind of country dares trample on international treaties?” Valchev asked, referring to Macedonian citizen Ljubčo Georgievski, whom he praised as “a proud Bulgarian” facing legal threats for openly embracing his identity.
“I sincerely believe that North Macedonia belongs in Europe. But its authorities must abandon their masters in Belgrade and Budapest and protect human rights,” Valchev declared, in comments reported by Bulgarian agency BGNES.
Andrey Kovatchev, another Bulgarian MEP from the GERB party (EPP group), accused Skopje’s leadership of blocking the EU path through populism and nationalist propaganda.
“Instead of genuine reforms, we see Bulgaria portrayed as an enemy, leading to direct repression against people who preserve their Bulgarian identity – the descendants of what was once the majority,” he said. “These people face pressure, discrimination and open threats, like Mr. Georgievski – a leading figure in the Bulgarian community.”
“Stop wasting your citizens’ time,” Kovatchev urged North Macedonia’s politicians. “I hope the dawn of freedom comes sooner rather than later.”
Although the report by Green MEP Waitz is non-binding, it signals the European Parliament’s political stance on North Macedonia’s accession process.
Despite receiving the green light to start EU membership talks in 2022, North Macedonia has yet to open any negotiating chapters, with the constitutional inclusion of the Bulgarian minority remaining a key precondition amid ongoing disputes with Sofia.