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Yesterday in Brussels, the Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Oliver Varheli, presented a report on the progress of North Macedonia in achieving the tasks that bring the country closer to the Union. The report was generally good. There was praise, but also criticism and guidelines that will have to be implemented in the future, writes the Macedonian edition “Free Press”, quoted by the agency “Focus”.
But what left a strong mark on the presentation in the Great Hall of the European Commission in the presence of a large number of journalists from all European countries, including Bulgaria, was the public announcement by the official spokesperson that Varheli’s speech would be translated. (in most languages) and in Macedonian.
Given all the confusion with the Bulgarian denial of everything Macedonian, this public announcement “that for the first time” there will be a Macedonian translation, as if addressed to them, as a sign that this problem in the EU has been solved ago. long time. I was not there, but it seems to me that the Bulgarians and those who were in the hall, but also all those who were not there and found out, were “scalded.” And I believe that the echo of the speaker pierces the eardrums of all Bulgarian politicians, even in Sofia, who day and night with decrees change their history, but also the history of the Macedonians, entering such doubts and contradictions from which they cannot get out , which one day will be an embarrassment to the entire scientific and intellectual elite of Bulgaria.
It remains to be seen whether with this small European complaint “for the first time” the EC slammed the door against unilateral Bulgarian demands to impose the phrase “Bulgarian language” or “official language” of the state of North Macedonia in the framework of negotiations. . But not for long, because Varheli himself is optimistic that Macedonia will start negotiations with the EU by the end of the year. But this “awakening” in Bulgaria was preceded by another “political slap” from the Council of Europe, when it called on the Bulgarian authorities to stop blocking the registration of associations of “ethnic Macedonians” fighting for the recognition of the Macedonian minority. in Bulgaria. It seems that communications from Europe are officially difficult to access to Sofia, but the scientific community is slowly beginning to wake up. Thirty Bulgarian historians, scientists, university professors and citizens have written a joint letter to the public entitled “Europe does not understand us” against the memorandum sent from Sofia to the EU member states, which raised serious claims and drew red lines along the way. from Macedonia to the EU.
Then the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences opposed the proposed change to the celebration of May 24 only as a Bulgarian holiday. “The proposed change only emphasizes Bulgaria’s role in preserving the work of Cyril and Methodius and obscures the pan-Slavic and European meaning of the Holy Enlightenment, reducing May 24 to a national holiday only, but not to a day of international and universal importance “. Oliver Varheli, who personally advocates for the integration of the Balkans into the EU, is here today to personally present the report to the Macedonian authorities. But in addition to a report, he also announced a statement that he announced yesterday on a detailed plan for the Western Balkans, which foresees up to nine billion in investments in the region.
Europe may be demanding, but it is ready to give a lot. Sometimes much more than the total inflow of foreign direct investment that all governments are proud to have provided. The question is to what extent are we willing to use these means for regional connection.
But more on that, another time.
Belgium
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