Nikolovski: No One is Foolish Enough to Engage in Bulgaria’s Endless Cycle of Conditions and Vetoes

Skopje – According to Aleksandar Nikoloski, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Transport, and Vice-President of VMRO-DPMNE, entering Bulgaria’s cycle of endless conditions and vetoes is not a wise move. He asserts that the issue is more complex than what is publicly acknowledged, pointing to a fundamental strategic decision by major EU member states to halt expansion for over a decade.

“The advantage of delaying is the preservation of national pride. We are not naïve enough to fall into Bulgaria’s trap of continuous demands and vetoes. If the discussions are to be prolonged, we refuse to endure more setbacks. I have consistently voiced my concerns about this, and I firmly believe that the real issue is broader than it appears. The strategic stance of the prominent EU members, unfortunately, has remained unchanged for more than ten years, as they have decided against any form of expansion. Jean-Claude Juncker, the former President of the European Commission, was candid about this, stating unequivocally that there would be no expansion,” Nikoloski expressed during his appearance on “Only Interview” on Kanal 5 television. This statement was made in response to questions regarding the benefits for the country of not pursuing formal EU negotiations at this time.

Nikoloski also highlighted the circumstances faced by other nations in the EU accession process. “Look at Serbia; they are experiencing a veto. Greece has already indicated a veto against Albania. Montenegro’s negotiations seem to be on hold indefinitely. Turkey’s situation is similarly stagnant. The picture is clear,” he remarked.

He noted that during the terms of the last two European Commissioners for Enlargement, there was no new membership granted, expressing skepticism about the assurances given by the current European Commissioner Marta Kos. He questioned whether the EU truly intends to adopt a real approach that could lead to the admission of one or more candidate countries for membership by the end of the current Commission’s term. (December 12)