President of Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova said that Bulgaria’s conditions for the country’s path toward European integration cannot be defined solely as a bilateral dispute, but neither can they be viewed only as a problem between Macedonia and the European Union.
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In an interview with Sitel, she spoke about her recent meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as well as the possibility of the EU acting as a mediator in the dialogue with Bulgaria.
Commenting on calls from Brussels to continue talks with Sofia, Siljanovska-Davkova recalled that the question had previously been raised of whether the dispute should be viewed as a bilateral issue or as part of relations with the European Union.
She said that Macedonia had considered the issue bilateral, since neither the Action Plan nor earlier discussions had included objections from other countries, and there had been no threats of a veto. Instead, she said, the principle of merit in the evaluation process had been emphasized. The president added that Bulgaria, on the other hand, insisted that this was not a bilateral issue but one linked to the European Union. “If that is the case, then let us negotiate with the European Union,” she said.
According to the president, European law provides mechanisms for cases of this kind. She referred to Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, which allows certain rights of a member state to be restricted if a serious breach of the EU’s principles and values is established.
Nevertheless, Siljanovska-Davkova emphasized that a solution requires dialogue and a confrontation of positions. She stressed that the process cannot be labeled either as an entirely bilateral issue or as a problem that Macedonia has solely with the European Union.
Speaking about the obligations undertaken and the positions of European officials, the president referred to European constitutional law and the EU’s foundational documents.
Siljanovska-Davkova said that, in addition to being president, she is also a professor and is well acquainted with European constitutional law. She said that the principles and values of the EU, which have also been discussed by Bulgaria’s president, Ms. Jotova, correspond to the issues she herself has raised. According to her, the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty of Lisbon and the Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly establish that the European Union must respect national and cultural identity, not only that of member states, but of all nations and states.
She added that these documents also provide for respect for the constitutional and political structures of states.
The president assessed that these principles should also be applied during Macedonia’s European integration process, particularly on issues affecting national and cultural identity.
Regarding the demand for constitutional changes, Siljanovska-Davkova said she could not guarantee that they would be adopted.
She explained that members of parliament do not represent her personally, but the citizens, and that, as in other European parliaments, they vote in accordance with their own convictions.
The president also raised the question of what would happen if the constitutional changes were brought up for consideration again, but lawmakers failed to secure the two-thirds majority and the required majority of representatives of communities that do not constitute the majority.
