European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Skopje on 2 October that constitutional amendments remain the key step for North Macedonia to advance its EU accession process and open the Fundamentals cluster. [1] [2] [3]
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said he would ask Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski to seek a bilateral meeting with Bulgaria during a visit to Sofia the following week. Mickoski also called for the process to be protected from new bilateral conditions. [2] [3]
ContextThe dispute concerns the 2022 EU framework and Bulgaria's demand that North Macedonia recognise its Bulgarian minority in the constitution. The planned talks are a proposed first step; no agreement to unblock negotiations was announced. [2] [3]