Croatia’s opposition Social Democratic Party leader Siniša Hajdaš Dončić said on Saturday that vetoes imposed by Greece and Bulgaria on North Macedonia’s European Union accession process amount to “a European shame” and should be resolved bilaterally rather than through institutional blockages.
“These issues should remain bilateral and be addressed between North Macedonia, Greece and Bulgaria, not used as obstacles to European integration,” Hajdaš Dončić told a joint news conference in Skopje alongside Venko Filipče, head of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM).
North Macedonia, an EU candidate country since 2005, has faced repeated delays in opening and advancing accession talks due to disputes with neighbouring EU member states. Greece had previously blocked the country’s path for years over a name dispute, which was resolved with the 2018 Prespa Agreement, paving the way for NATO membership and renewed EU prospects. More recently, Bulgaria has objected over issues related to language, history and minority rights, linking progress in accession talks to bilateral commitments.
Hajdaš Dončić said his party strongly supports North Macedonia’s EU membership bid, adding that despite current challenges, the European Union remains “the best option” for smaller countries in the region such as North Macedonia and Croatia.
Both he and Filipče said EU membership should not be seen as an end in itself but as a tool to improve living standards, economic conditions and opportunities for young people.
Filipče also criticised domestic urban development policies, contrasting them with Croatia’s approach.
“Former industrial sites in Croatia are being transformed into cultural and urban centres, while in our country they are often replaced by new residential buildings,” he said, adding that such practices undermine sustainable development.
The two parties agreed to strengthen cooperation between municipalities led by social democrats in both countries, aiming to improve preparedness for accessing EU funds and advancing integration efforts.
Hajdaš Dončić said that while the EU “is not ideal”, there is currently no better alternative for countries in Southeast Europe seeking stability, development and integration into broader European structures.