According to the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska, the amendments to the European Parliament's (EP) report on the country's progress in European integration, with which the EPP, Socialists and Democrats and "Renew Europe" groups propose to remove all references to “Macedonian identity” and “Macedonian language” from the document, show a democratic deficit in the EU, BTA reported.
“I am not shocked, although I am deeply disappointed, especially by the nature of some amendments, and even by the discussions. I am not shocked, because in the European Parliament there are also representatives of parties that are against the EU itself. Otherwise, I was pleasantly surprised by the report of Mr. (Thomas) Weitz (rapporteur for North Macedonia in the EP), he is considered a respected MP who knows the Balkan circumstances well, because the same thing that is happening to us, Austria could do to Slovenia, because the Slovenian constitution does not include Austrians, Croats, Bosnians, Roma... But the nature of the amendments showed that not only the world, but also Europe and the EU have a serious problem with democracy”, the website „Vecer” quotes Siljanovska as saying.
The President of North Macedonia believes that the statement of the President of the European Council Antonio Costa that reforms are needed in the EU is not accidental „and that it has something to do with both the veto phenomenon and the danger of bilateralization of European integration”.
Siljanovska also cites „the reaction of the Bulgarian government” about the 2021 census in Bulgaria.
„It (Bulgaria) says that in the summary of the 2021 census, 1143 people identified themselves as ethnic Macedonians, 3540 stated that their native language is Macedonian, and 1091 people reported that they speak Macedonian at home. And here is what the government writes: it says that „it provides an opportunity for a voluntary process of self-determination“. Here I direct international organizations to return to the censuses in Bulgaria, because no phenomenal changes are happening anywhere. Let them see both the 1956 census and the 1946 census. But it is interesting what the government's letter says that „these people who present themselves as Macedonians are a small group and do not meet the objective criteria for the status of a national minority”. Can we conclude something? For which category should we change the constitution? For how many (people)? That's what I'm asking”, Siljanovska stated, quoted by the publication.
According to the latest census in the Republic of North Macedonia, there are 3,504 Bulgarians in the country, and the condition for a real start of negotiations between North Macedonia and the EU is their inclusion in the constitution, which already lists representatives of various communities in the country.