Siljanovska-Davkova: Constitutional amendments do not rule out further blockades on the road to the EU

President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova considers September 30 a decisive date for the future of European Union enlargement, as the European Commission is expected to publish a report on its new approach to the process that day.

In an interview with Kanal 5 television, she said that on September 30 the European Commission will present for the first time the model on which the continuation of the enlargement process will be based. In October, she said, the European Council is also expected to discuss these issues.

“These are precisely the important moments for us to proceed with the possible steps on which agreement is being reached,” the president said.

Regarding relations with Bulgaria, Siljanovska-Davkova said that her recent contacts with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev had created opportunities for more intensive dialogue and for finding joint solutions.

“The conclusion is that a great deal of commitment and goodwill is needed to move forward. We must invest jointly to reach a solution,” she said.

She stressed that Bulgaria presents a unified position in foreign policy, regardless of its internal political differences.

“We are truly an interesting phenomenon, unlike Bulgaria, which speaks everywhere with one voice, even when it is not right,” Siljanovska-Davkova said.

Referring to European integration, the president said that constitutional amendments do not, in themselves, guarantee that North Macedonia will not face further obstacles on its path to the European Union.

According to her, the reason for blockades that may emerge later lies in the Second Protocol between Skopje and Sofia, elements of which are part of the negotiating framework and the EU conclusions.

“The path will certainly open at some point, but then another obstacle will emerge. The source of the obstacles must be removed, and that is Protocol 2,” the president stressed.

She reiterated that North Macedonia is seeking a solution that would avoid the bilateralisation of the European integration process. According to her, the European Union has mechanisms to prevent blockades based on identity issues.

Siljanovska-Davkova noted that no one can guarantee that a member state will not impose a new veto in the future. However, she said the EU can establish rules to ensure that the European integration process is not blocked by issues unrelated to membership criteria.

She added that the country remains committed to the reform agenda and is prepared to move at the pace of states advancing more quickly towards European Union membership.