Thu Sep 26 14:20:59 UTC 2024: ## North Macedonia Frozen Out of EU Accession Talks: Nationalism and Geopolitics Blamed
**Skopje, Macedonia** – North Macedonia’s path to EU membership has hit a major roadblock, with the EU choosing to begin accession talks with Albania while leaving Skopje behind. Analysts point to a toxic mix of nationalism and geopolitical maneuvering as the primary culprits behind this decision.
Despite applying for EU membership in 2005, North Macedonia has made no progress towards starting accession talks. This stands in stark contrast to Albania, which, although becoming a candidate in 2014, has already begun negotiations.
The root of the problem appears to be long-standing disputes with neighboring Greece and Bulgaria, both of whom have leveraged their influence within the EU to impede progress. While the historic Prespa Agreement of 2019 resolved issues with Greece regarding the country’s name, tensions with Bulgaria have persisted.
Bulgaria has consistently raised concerns about the treatment of Bulgarian minorities in North Macedonia, citing historical grievances and demanding constitutional changes. The “French Compromise,” a deal reached in 2022, promised the start of negotiations after North Macedonia amended its constitution to recognize the Bulgarian minority. However, the recent shift towards an anti-French Compromise stance by the current North Macedonian government led by Hristijan Mickoski has exacerbated the situation.
Adding to the complex web of factors, geopolitical interests are seen as playing a significant role. Serbia, which has not made significant progress towards EU membership under its leader Aleksandar Vučić, is believed to be working to keep North Macedonia within its sphere of influence. Furthermore, Russia, a close ally of Serbia, is suspected of manipulating the situation to gain further leverage in the region.
The involvement of nationalist political forces in both Bulgaria and North Macedonia further complicates the issue. The Bulgarian VMRO party, with alleged pro-Russian tendencies, and its counterpart in North Macedonia, VMRO-DPMNE, are seen as actively exacerbating the situation for political gain.
With the EU seemingly caught in the middle of a geopolitical tug-of-war, the future of North Macedonia’s EU aspirations remains uncertain. Unless the country can address the concerns of its neighbors and navigate the complex geopolitical landscape, its EU dream may remain frozen indefinitely.
First Piper 