North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said on Thursday his government would not pursue constitutional changes required for the country’s European Union accession talks unless two key guarantees are secured, deepening uncertainty over Skopje’s stalled path toward EU membership.
Speaking in parliament, Mickoski said amendments would not move forward without internationally guaranteed rights for ethnic Macedonians in Bulgaria and firm assurances that North Macedonia would not face further bilateral blockades linked to political disputes.
“While I am prime minister, there will be no constitutional amendments without these two guarantees,” Mickoski said, responding to a question from lawmaker Skender Redzepi.
The constitutional changes, sought by the EU, would require North Macedonia to formally recognise Bulgarians as a minority in its constitution — a condition tied to the lifting of Sofia’s veto on Skopje’s EU accession process. Bulgaria has repeatedly blocked progress, citing historical, linguistic and identity-related disputes.
Mickoski said his government could accept criticism based on measurable reforms, such as shortcomings in the rule of law, but rejected what he described as politically motivated pressure.
“We can accept remarks if they are grounded in real deficiencies, but not new blockades, humiliations or vetoes based on subjective political reasons,” he said.
Addressing lawmakers, Mickoski urged all 120 members of parliament not to support constitutional amendments without binding safeguards.
“I advise all MPs not to back constitutional changes without guarantees. When I am no longer prime minister, someone else may answer differently,” he added.
Mickoski also criticised Bulgaria’s treatment of the Macedonian minority, saying ethnic Macedonians there are denied basic cultural and linguistic rights, including the right to organise and be represented through groups such as OMO Ilinden–Pirin.
“They are asking only to preserve their language, culture, songs and traditions. Is that too much?” he said.
North Macedonia, which joined NATO in 2020 after resolving a long-running name dispute with Greece, has struggled to advance toward EU membership due to bilateral disputes, first with Athens and later with Sofia. The issue has become a sensitive domestic political question, with constitutional changes requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority.
The EU has repeatedly urged Skopje and Sofia to implement previously agreed frameworks, warning that prolonged deadlock risks undermining the bloc’s enlargement credibility in the Western Balkans.