The government of North Macedonia has accepted the compromise allowing the opening of negotiations for accession to the European Union, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski announced on Saturday July 16 in Skopje, hailing a "historic step".

This compromise was intended to settle the historic dispute with Bulgaria which was blocking the opening of negotiations for North Macedonia's accession to the European Union.

It was prepared under the French presidency of the EU which has just ended. 

Dimitar Kovacevski, speaking to the press on Saturday after the government meeting, saw in this decision "a historic step".

“We are one step away from the first intergovernmental meeting (with the EU) which will finally, after 17 years, mark the start of North Macedonia's negotiations with the EU,” the prime minister said.

“From today we will move forward towards the EU in an accelerated way,” added Dimitar Kovacevski.

>> See also: Accession to the EU: the young people of North Macedonia, between hopes and disappointments

After the vote, deputies unfurled a North Macedonian flag and a European Union flag in the parliament hall.

Previously, the Parliament of North Macedonia adopted a framework for negotiations aimed at protecting the language and identity of North Macedonians.

"France will stand alongside North Macedonia", promises Macron

Skopje's decision was unanimously welcomed by Brussels, notably by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Foreign Minister Joseph Borell.

"A crucial step for North Macedonia (...) which paves the way for an intergovernmental meeting next week," wrote European Council President Charles Michel on Twitter.

"By voting today in favor of the proposal made by France at the end of its presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Macedonian Parliament is once again making the resolute choice of Europe", noted the President. French Emmanuel Macron.

"France will stand alongside North Macedonia during the first intergovernmental conference which will open a historic phase in its process of joining the Union," he added on Twitter.

By voting sovereignly today in favor of the proposal made by France at the end of its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Macedonian Parliament is once again making the resolute choice of Europe.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 16, 2022

The opposition denounces "a betrayal of Macedonia"

The main opposition party, the nationalist right VMRO-DPMNE, on Saturday castigated the decision of the government, dominated by the SDSM (left).

"What they (the SDSM government, editor's note) have accepted is a betrayal of Macedonia and the Macedonian people. This is a complete bulgarization and assimilation of Macedonia," VMRO said in a statement. communicated.

According to the compromise on the table, prepared under the French presidency of the EU which has just ended, Skopje must in particular undertake to modify its Constitution to include Bulgarians in the recognized ethnic groups and to "implement" a 2017 friendship treaty aimed at eradicating hate speech.

>> To read also: EU enlargement: stop or again?

This task is proving delicate because a two-thirds majority of the 120 deputies is required, which is not currently the case given the fierce opposition of the VMRO-DPMNE. 

North Macedonia has been blocked since 2005 in the antechamber of the EU.

Greece initially vetoed until 2018, before Sofia blocked the file in 2020 amid ancient historical and cultural disputes.

Bulgaria prevented the launch of negotiations with Skopje, but also with Tirana, the two candidacies being linked by the EU.

Sofia finally lifted her veto on June 24, under certain conditions.

With AFP

The summary of the

France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_EN