Germany's Scholz tries to unblock North Macedonia's EU bid

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited North Macedonia and Bulgaria on Saturday in a bid to resolve the dispute between both countries that has seen European Union membership talks with both North Macedonia and Albania blocked.

Bulgaria refuses to approve the EU’s membership negotiation framework for North Macedonia, effectively blocking the official start of accession talks with its smaller Balkan neighbor.

Scholz said that “the Western Balkans are of strategic importance” for Germany and that his country is “serious” in supporting European integration of the region.

“North Macedonia and Albania deserve to start the membership talks,” Scholz said at joint news conference with North Macedonia Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski in the capital, Skopje.

Bulgaria insists North Macedonia must formally recognize that its language has Bulgarian roots, to mention a Bulgarian minority in its constitution and to stamp out allegedly anti-Bulgarian rhetoric. North Macedonia says its identity and language aren't open for discussion and that the solution must be based on European values.

Kovachevski said that North Macedonia has fulfilled all criteria to start membership talks with the EU, based on a “merit system,” and again called on EU leaders to give the green light for opening talks at the forthcoming EU summit on June 23.

“North Macedonia and Albania cannot be hostages in this process because of the only one EU member state blocking,” Kovachevski said.

Scholz left Skopje and traveled to Bulgaria's capital where he reiterated that he strongly supports the start of EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.

Scholz — speaking to reporters in Sofia, the final stop of his two-day tour to the region — voiced optimism that progress will be...