North Macedonia
Marta Kos after meeting Bekim Sali: Skopje needs only the constitutional changes, there is not much left to do
The enlargement commissioner urged North Macedonia's government to fulfill its obligation to include Bulgarians in the Constitution. Sali asked for concrete benefits from gradual integration, such as SEPA and roaming.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 23, 2026, 17:05 · Updated 18:39 · 1 min read
In brief
- Kos said in Brussels that North Macedonia needs no further political decisions apart from the constitutional changes.
- The amendment to include Bulgarians and other groups requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
- First Deputy Prime Minister Bekim Sali asked that gradual integration bring concrete benefits for citizens.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said on Friday in Brussels that North Macedonia needs only the constitutional changes to continue on its path toward the European Union, with no other political decisions. She spoke after meeting First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Bekim Sali.
“There are not many things that need to be done,” Kos said, urging the government in Skopje to fulfill its obligation. In her view, the moment is right for the country to move forward, citing the progress of Montenegro and Albania.
The Constitution, the unresolved knot
The required change provides for including Bulgarians and other ethnic groups in the preamble of the Constitution and needs a two-thirds majority in Parliament. Without these amendments, substantive accession negotiations cannot begin. The first intergovernmental conference was held on July 19, 2022, after Parliament approved the French proposal on July 16, in a vote without the participation of the then-opposition, which is now in power.
Sali: Concrete benefits for citizens
At the meeting, Sali welcomed the Commission's communication “Preparing for a Wider Union” and said the enlargement process should be more predictable, based on merit and measurable results. “European integration must not remain just a political perspective,” he said, asking that it bring real opportunities for citizens and businesses.
Among the benefits discussed were participation in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), a possible extension of the “Roam Like at Home” model and cooperation on digital transformation. Sali also spoke about the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the Reform Agenda and the importance of the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework for candidate countries.
