By Erisa Zykaj, Brussels
The European Commission on Tuesday reiterated its call for North Macedonia to fully implement the Ohrid Agreement, which ended the 2001 conflict in the country. The Commission’s stance was conveyed by spokesperson Guillaume Mercier during the institution’s midday press briefing.
Mercier responded to questions regarding accusations by Albanian opposition parties, who claim the government of North Macedonia has undermined the Ohrid Agreement over the past nine months. According to these parties, the government has restricted the representation of ethnic Albanians in key institutions and removed Albanian as an official language.
“We are closely monitoring developments in North Macedonia. The continued implementation of the 2001 Ohrid Agreement remains essential for the country’s democracy and stability, requiring the involvement of all stakeholders,” Mercier said. He spoke on behalf of Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
The Commission also expressed concern over the stalled constitutional changes in North Macedonia, which are hindering the country’s EU accession process. Authorities in Skopje have yet to fulfill a key requirement under the EU negotiation framework—known as the “French proposal”—which calls for the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in the country’s constitutional preamble, in line with Bulgaria’s demands.
Addressing the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said she hopes North Macedonia’s authorities will meet this commitment, allowing the country to move forward with formal EU accession talks.