The European Parliament has called on North Macedonia to refrain from altering or distorting shared historical narratives with Bulgaria, urging Skopje to ensure that its approach to common history is based on verified sources, academic standards, and existing bilateral agreements. The position is included in the EP’s annual report on North Macedonia, which has been reviewed by members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and is now circulating ahead of a forthcoming plenary vote.
The draft report stresses the need for renewed engagement within the framework of the joint intergovernmental and historical commissions between the two countries. It specifically urges North Macedonia to organize a new session of the joint intergovernmental commission and to resume the work of the Joint Multidisciplinary Expert Commission on Historical and Educational Issues with Bulgaria, which has not met for an extended period.
MEPs underline that both sides should implement international agreements in good faith, explicitly referencing the Prespa Agreement as well as the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. The document acknowledges that differing interpretations of historical developments exist, but insists that such differences must be addressed through structured dialogue and scholarly cooperation.
