The Macedonian Parliament approves the agreement with Bulgaria and opens the door to EU membership

BUDAPEST, July 16 (DPA/EP) –

The Parliament of North Macedonia unanimously approved this Saturday the agreement reached by the Government with Bulgaria so that it withdraws the veto on North Macedonia’s access to the EU.

Despite not having any votes against the agreement, the deputies of the nationalist party Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party of Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) have been absent from the vote in protest at the agreement, according to the news agency mafax news.

Both the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, have already expressed their satisfaction with the approval on Twitter.

“It is an opportunity and you have taken advantage of it,” according to Von der Leyen, who considers that it represents “a big step on your way to a European future.” “Our future is united. We welcome you with open arms,” ​​said Michel.

North Macedonia had been waiting since 2008 to open formal accession talks, first because of the Greek veto over the name Macedonia and then because of Bulgaria’s blockade over a dispute over the origin of the Macedonian language and the treatment of the Bulgarian minority.

France, as rotating president of the European Council during the first half of the year, brokered an agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia and the Bulgarian Parliament approved it in June.

Now it has also been approved in Skopje despite the opposition of nationalists and some liberals because they warn that Bulgaria could once again veto access to the EU.