Constitutional Changes: Latest Developments and Stands

MPs will first debate the matter of constitutional changes on Tuesday, 25 July. The process will be headed by Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi, in the capacity of Constitutional Changes Committee Chairperson. VMRO-DPMNE has announced it will be present and actively participate, though its stand that there will be no constitutional changes “under a Bulgarian dictate” remains unchanged.

However, Xhaferi says that adopting the changes is possible if, as he notes, narrow-party interests are overcome. When it comes to Anna Luhrmann’s stand, the German Minister for Europe said the negotiating framework was supported by all EU members, there were no new conditions, while the dynamism of reforms will determine the speed of the accession process.

President Stevo Pendarovski expects intensive talks in Parliament on the changes. “This is a strategic moment we must not miss out on for the country and future generations,” he said on Sunday.