North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev have criticized the European Union for creating obstacles in their path to joining the bloc, due to a disagreement with Bulgaria over Balkan history, language, and culture.
The dispute centers around Bulgaria’s refusal to acknowledge North Macedonia’s language and identity, claiming that they are overlapping with Bulgarian history and culture. This disagreement has prevented North Macedonia from moving forward in its EU accession process.
President Pendarovski expressed frustration with the EU’s handling of the situation, stating that it is unacceptable for the bloc to allow one member state to block the progress of another. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Zaev emphasized the importance of resolving the issue in order to maintain stability and peace in the region.
Despite the setbacks, both leaders remain committed to the goal of EU membership for North Macedonia, citing the benefits it would bring in terms of economic development, security, and stability.
The EU has been urged to intervene and facilitate dialogue between North Macedonia and Bulgaria to reach a resolution to the dispute and allow North Macedonia to continue on its path towards EU membership.
In conclusion, North Macedonia’s president and prime minister have expressed frustration over the obstacles created by the EU in their accession process due to the dispute with Bulgaria. They continue to advocate for dialogue and a resolution to the disagreement in order to move forward with their goal of joining the European Union.
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