Ressler: ‘Bilateral Issue’ will Have to Be Solved between Skopje and Sofia

The mood about enlargement among MEPs with regards to the Skopje-Sofia dispute is currently not weighted in North Macedonia’s favour.

European Parliament (EP) sources told CivilMedia on Tuesday that the matter was not high on the agenda of MEPs, adding that the constitutional changes had to be made. Also, they were sceptical over the issue of potential modifications.

“Do something so that we can help you,” they pointed out.

According to them, since the elections, contacts with North Macedonia MPs have diminished, while they are not familiar when it comes to whether the stands of the former opposition members have changed since they came to power.

Karlo Ressler, who co-chairs the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), pointed out that the EU was no longer under the illusion that the North Macedonia-Bulgaria differences could be overcome through some magic solution.

“This bilateral issue will have to be solved between the two countries,” the MEP stressed. The EU, he added, can only be a helper, mediator or facilitator.

“We will surely work, through an open and constructive dialogue for you to find a way out of this situation,” MEP Ressler underlined.