The role of the EU in solving political issues based on historical disputes: The case of Bulgaria and North Macedonia

Closed expert discussion

As political forces are re-arranging themselves in Bulgaria after the parliamentary election on April 4, 2021,  current relations between this country and northern Macedonia are at their lowest level in decades. The enthusiasm after the signing of the agreement on good neighborly relations on August 1, 2017, has turned into an open dispute between the two governments over the historical heritage and the question of the identity of ethnic Macedonians. The official blockade of the Bulgarian government in approving the negotiation framework for Northern Macedonia and the official denial of the Macedonian language has further worsened the fragile relations. Consequently, the situation has been severely strained by ethnonational-biased interpretations of the past and strong nationalist rhetoric.

Over the past two years, several developments have damaged mutual trust and cooperation between the two governments, which now accuse each other of obstructing the agreement. While both governments are trying to get out of the current limbo and adopt an action plan for the implementation of the agreement, the bilateral multidisciplinary committee of experts on historical and educational issues has not been able to meet the expectations Sofia and Skopje had. All this endangers the EU integration process of WB6, as the start of accession talks with Northern Macedonia is hostage to the veto power of the Balkan EU member states, which use it to impose their political positions on history and memory.

The aim of the debate is to discuss and exchange ideas and views on the current relations between North Macedonia and Bulgaria in the context of the EU enlargement and the importance for the WB6 European integration. The discussion will address also the role and responsibility of the EU institution and EU member states.

With:

• Erwan Fouéré Former EU ambassador to North Macedonia
• Dr. Simonida Kacarska Director of the Institute for European policy - Skopje
• Vessela Tcherneva Deputy Director, European Council on Foreign Relation - Sofia
• Prof. Eckhardt Fuchs, Director of the Georg Eckert Institute, Braunschweig

Chaired by Simon Ilse, head of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Belgrade

The closed expert-discussion is held in English language only. We kindly ask for registration.

A cooperation of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: Sarajevo, Belgrade, Berlin, Brussels and the Westbalkan Strategy Group
 

Information:

Katja Giebel, Project officer, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Berlin
E giebel@boell.de

Damir Zekovic, Program Coordinator Democracy, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Sarajevo
E damir.zekovic@ba.boell.org

A cooperation of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: Sarajevo, Belgrade, Berlin, Brussels and the Westbalkan Strategy Group

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