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EC: North Macedonia has not yet included the Bulgarians in its constitution

Photo: BTA

"North Macedonia has not yet adopted the necessary constitutional changes to include the citizens who are part of other nations, such as the Bulgarians, in the constitution." This is seen in a report on EU enlargement, presented by the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. North Macedonia is committed to making these changes in accordance with the conclusions of the EU Council from July 2022, but the necessary two-thirds majority for this change was not achieved in the parliament, the document recalls, BNR correspondent in Brussels Angelina Piskova reported. In addition to the Bulgarians, five more nationalities should be included - Croats, Montenegrins, Slovenes, Jews and Egyptians. Part of the Roma community in the country define themselves as Egyptians.

The report states that further efforts are needed to foster an atmosphere of dialogue and mutual respect between the countries. The Commission also criticizes North Macedonia for freezing the construction of corridor No. 8, although it considers that it has achieved a good level of preparation in the field of trans-European transport networks. Work on the corridor has progressed but the third phase of the project at Kriva Palanka on the border with Bulgaria was stopped by the national authorities.


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