Bulgaria abuses its position to block our EU membership: North Macedonia's Deputy PM Nikoloski
We put it to Nikoloski that the European Parliament has called on his country to make constitutional amendments and to include the Bulgarian minority in North Macedonia in those amendments. In other words, there is a European consensus asking for constitutional changes, rather than just Bulgaria. Nikoloski counters: "The substance of the problem is that Bulgaria is using its membership of the EU to put pressure on us. They are neglecting our language, our culture and our national identity. There are 14 decisions by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria that Bulgaria is not implementing. So on one side, you don't respect what the European Court is saying. And on the other side, you abuse your position to block the neighbour. That's why we are stuck."
Again, we put it to Nikoloski that Bulgaria is not solely responsible for the delays in North Macedonia's EU accession. The European Commission, in its last enlargement report, gave arguably a lukewarm assessment, noting "some level of preparation" in key areas, while the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee has talked of "worsening trends in high-level corruption and low public trust in the judiciary". Nikoloski responds: "I totally agree. This government was elected one year ago and the biggest challenge was the judiciary. The public trust in the judiciary is only 2 percent, and we are not satisfied with the level of the judiciary and the prosecutor. We will do the reforms together (with the EU). There is a big expertise that is coming from the European Commission that we are using for this, and we are thankful for that."
Nikoloski also holds the transport portfolio in the government of North Macedonia, which is important given the country's connectivity projects. "We have a very unique geographical location. Two pan-European corridors are intersecting just east of our capital, Skopje, which is a unique case in the entire southeastern Europe," he says. One of those corridors was declared "as the second most important corridor for NATO because it is an alternative route for the supply of Ukraine", he explains. Nikoloski goes on to say: "We have huge plans and that is why we signed a government-to-government agreement with the United Kingdom, where we have £5 billion or €6 billion at our disposal for these kinds of projects. I'm looking for something similar as well in France, and we are looking for that kind of partnership with other countries in Europe as well."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
7 hours ago
- Euronews
Greece and Poland demand reparations from Germany for World War II
The opening of the photographic exhibition "Legacy of War—The losses of Poland and Greece: A March Towards Memory and Justice" opened on Tuesday at the European Parliament in Brussels. The event was hosted by Greek MEP Emmanouil Fragkos and Polish MEP Arkadiusz Murlancik, both members of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) political group. The exhibition, with photographs depicting the invasion, occupation and the resistance, aims to recall the extent of the devastation suffered by Poland and Greece at the hands of Nazi Germany during World War II, pointing out the evidence that the two states must use in their legal fight for reparations. A debate on "War Crimes and Reparation - Safeguarding the Rule of Law by Addressing Past Injustice" was held with the participation of experts from Greece, Poland, and Italy and members of the European Parliament. In his statement, Fragkos spoke about Greece's long-standing identification with just demands, noting the importance of justice in order to close the wounds of World War II. He referred to the crimes committed by the Nazis against the Greeks and the country's infrastructure, which condemned Greece to poverty, noting that the claim for reparations is a legally active demand. His Polish counterpart spoke about transitional justice, the rule of law and the importance of international responsibility in addressing historical crimes and ensuring accountability. Unfortunately, German MEPs did not attend the event, despite being invited. Only the first step in renewed efforts to achieve compensation On the Polish side, the organiser was ECR MEP Arkadiusz Mularczyk. Previously, as deputy foreign minister and Polish MP, he supervised the preparation of a special report on war reparations: "We spent long months on the work, trying to estimate something that is almost impossible to value. How to value the long and short-term losses caused by the destruction of Poland, of its infrastructure, its monuments, its economy, its potential? Losses in people, those murdered, but also those maimed physically and psychologically, the destruction of the Polish elite?" So far, the topic is ignored by Germany, which even claims that it is a closed issue. However, there are countries where compensation processes are still going on even now, although it is done in an unusual way. In Italy, for example, where Italian lawyers file lawsuits on behalf of victims, victims' families and win compensation, the Italian state pays. MEPs reiterate that the conference and exhibition are only the first step on a long road. The next ones will be the establishment of a special intergroup on war reparations from Germany and, within this framework, cooperation between the affected countries and legislative acts - such as resolutions of the European Parliament, for example.
Local France
8 hours ago
- Local France
France and Spain lead efforts to tax private jets
The two European nations – along with Kenya, Benin, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Barbados plus Antigua and Barbuda – launched a coalition at a UN conference on development financing in Seville to tighten up taxation of the aviation sector, including the prospect of taxes on private jets and passengers travelling in business or first class. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the coalition would 'work toward a greater contribution from the aviation sector' to improve 'climate resilience'. In a statement, France's Élysée palace confirmed this initiative, specifying that it aims to 'improve the mobilisation of national revenues in developing countries and support international solidarity,' with particular emphasis on adapting to climate change. Advertisement The coalition's goal is 'to increase the number of countries applying taxes on airline tickets, including for luxury travel, and to tax private jets based on best practices,' the Élysée's statement continued, while ensuring 'further progress in countries that already have such levies.' The announcement was welcomed by Greenpeace, which urged 'all countries to join and implement the commitments' made by this 'new solidarity coalition' in time for COP30, which will be held in November in Belem, Brazil. 'Flying is the most elitist and polluting form of travel, so this is an important step toward ensuring heavy users of this undertaxed sector pay their fair share,' insisted Rebecca Newsom, head of Greenpeace's 'Stop Drilling, Start Paying' campaign. At COP28 in 2023, Barbados, France, and Kenya launched a working group, with the support of the European Commission, to consider so-called 'global solidarity' levies on polluting sectors such as fossil fuels and aviation. This group, which has since worked on the introduction of specific taxes on private jets and airline tickets, estimated in a report published on June 19th that these measures could 'generate substantial revenues' of up to €187 billion. France already levies an 'eco tax' on airline tickets , which is charged on a sliding scale with higher rates for first class tickets and private jets.
Fashion Network
9 hours ago
- Fashion Network
Green claims: confusion surrounds the EU's anti-greenwashing directive
The EU's 'Green Claim' directive is designed to regulate the sustainability claims made by brands and combat greenwashing. But as the parliamentary debate under way since January was about to end, the European Commission has withdrawn its support for the text. Before specifying its position. After U-turns on the duty of vigilance directive and later on the need to display the environmental score on apparel products, the EU's tendency to back down on its green deal has once again been confirmed. This time, it all started on June 18, with a request from the European People's Party (EPP) to drop the so-called 'Green Claim' directive. The directive originally targeted vague marketing expressions such as 'green product', 'biodegradable', 'climate-neutral' and '100% natural', aiming to force brands to demonstrate the veracity of their sustainability claims. The European Council stated its position on it a year ago, and its approval was eagerly awaited by brands, NGOs and industry associations, including European textile industry association Euratex. On Friday June 20, it came as a surprise when a European Commission representative confirmed, following the EPP's request, its 'intention to withdraw its proposals' for defining the terms associated with sustainability. It was enough to stop short the debate on the directive, which had begun in 2023, despite the fact that a final meeting was scheduled for June 23 between the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. A few hours later, the EU Commission clarified its position, saying it is still willing to push forward the directive, but not if it incorporates provisions for micro-companies, as was the case in the text's last draft. There are 30 million such companies active in Europe. This back and forth is consistent with the simplification drive the European Commission has been pushing since January. A politically motivated drive that notably led to a first package of comprehensive measures being presented in March. Measures which included a watering down of the duty of vigilance directive, and which have enraged NGOs while also not convincing companies and retailers.
