In the run-up to the expected invitation by the EU to North Macedonia for the start of accession negotiations, on 30 September a summit meeting was convened in Sofia by President Rumen Radev, which decided that a national position should be developed urgently of requirements which North Macedonia must meet in the process of negotiations so that the Bulgarian national interest shall not be impaired. The President stated that red lines should be set down that would guarantee that the European integration of North Macedonia shall not be to the detriment of Bulgaria’s history, language or identity. What is worrying Sofia is the insufficient progress in the work of the joint commission for overcoming controversial historical issues between the two countries, set up by force of the 2017 agreement of friendship and goodneighbourhood.

What immediately stands out is that Sofia’s support for the accession of North Macedonia to the EU is not unconditional. But that is not something that has happened overnight. In 2009, during the first Borissov cabinet /2009-2013/, Macedonian Prime Minister at the time Nikola Gruevski made a statement that was perceived as an demonstration of territorial claims towards Bulgaria, and Boyko Borissov responded by reminding Skopje that the fundamental values of the EU are “a Europe without borders, a Europe of goodneighbourhood, a Europe, in which problems are not solved by statements such as this but by peace, understanding and tolerance”. At the beginning of 2015, during the second Borissov cabinet /2014-2016/ came the emphatic warning that Sofia supports the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Macedonia provided an agreement of goodneighbourhood and cooperation is signed.

The position made public after yesterday’s summit meeting may sound harsh, but in fact it is fairly restrained and balanced. Sofia is not withdrawing its support for North Macedonia’s bid to be given a date for the start of negotiations with the EU, it is just issuing a warning that unless its requirements are met, it may block the process of negotiations at the opening or closing of any of the 35 negotiating chapters. In fact, Sofia supports the start of negotiations, not only with North Macedonia, but with Albania as well, judging by the statement made by Prime Minister Borissov that the two Balkan countries must travel the road to the EU together. These words by the prime minister are a sign of consistency in upholding the idea that the EU should incorporate not some but all countries of the Western Balkans. In light of latest enlargement policy developments, these words portend resistance on the part of Sofia against the Netherlands’ intention to impede the start of accession negotiations with Albania.

Within hours after the summit meeting in Sofia, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev stated that he accepts Sofia’s recommendations but for the controversial historical issues to be resolved, Sofia needs to demonstrate willingness. This evasive reaction to the pointed warnings coming from Sofia is an indication that the road leading to the resolution of the contradictions between the two countries may have been outlined, but has yet to be traveled. The consensus demonstrated at the meeting organized by President Radev on the matter clearly shows that Bulgaria does not intend to retreat from the requirements it has set down.