Bulgaria with a request to the EU: RSM to prosecute and condemn hate speech against Bulgarians

Bulgaria with a request to the EU: RSM to prosecute and condemn hate speech against Bulgarians

Bulgaria presented to the EU General Affairs Council a declaration on the need for effective prosecution and condemnation of hate crimes by the authorities in North Macedonia, a BGNES reporter reports. In this regard, the EU Council yesterday, 13.12.2022, called on the RSM to "further strengthen fundamental rights, media freedom and freedom of expression" in the country.

The issue is part of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, which are a key criterion for progress in the process of accession to the European Union, the declaration stressed.

With its annual conclusions on the Enlargement Policy of 13.12.2022, the EU Council confirmed the "French proposal" on the issue of the European perspective of the RSM, referring to the agreements reached in July 2022. According to him, Skopje should include the Bulgarians on an equal footing with the other parts of the peoples in its constitution before it holds another Intergovernmental Conference with the European Union. Skopje is required to implement the Neighbourhood Treaty and its Protocols in good faith as part of the criteria for progress towards the EU. Last but not least, Skopje should develop and implement an Action Plan to guarantee the rights of communities on its territory, which also includes Bulgarians. It is in this context that the EU Council's call of yesterday 13.12.2022 fits. RSM to "further strengthen fundamental rights, media freedom and freedom of expression" in the country.

The Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova expressed serious concern about the increasing number of hate-motivated attacks against citizens of North Macedonia with Bulgarian identity, in connection with which the declaration in question was presented.

"Bulgaria is deeply concerned by the increasing number of incidents and attacks against organisations of citizens of North Macedonia with Bulgarian identity, as well as by the fact that investigations are not conducted properly and there are no effective convictions. In this context, and in relation to paragraph 59 of the Council conclusions, we underline the need for North Macedonia to continue its efforts to further strengthen fundamental rights and the need for active investigations and convictions for hate crimes," the declaration reads.

Bulgaria will closely monitor this issue in the context of the rule of law and fundamental rights, which are the main criteria for assessing progress towards EU membership, the Bulgarian side concluded.

The General Affairs Council has adopted the conclusions from the Bulgarian side on EU enlargement policy. Deputy Minister Petrova expressed her satisfaction with the adopted conclusions on the subject, containing a reaffirmation of the agreements already reached on the launch of real membership negotiations for North Macedonia, subject to the fulfilment of the conditions set by the Council on 18 July 2022 and the requirements in the Negotiating Framework.

Many of the key initiatives in this work programme also reflect the outcomes of the Conference on the Future of Europe. The Council endorsed a Joint Declaration by the Council, the EC and the EP on the EU's legislative priorities for 2023-2024. The leaders of the three European institutions are due to sign the Joint Declaration on 15.12.2022.

The move comes after two Bulgarian cultural centres in North Macedonia were attacked just days after North Macedonia and Bulgaria agreed to work to quell tensions.

In July, an agreement was reached between the two countries that allowed North Macedonia to begin the process of joining the EU after Skopje agreed to introduce constitutional changes regarding the change in the status of the Bulgarian minority. However, changes to the North Macedonian constitution require a two-thirds majority in parliament, which is not possible at the moment, so there has been no progress in the accession process. / BGNES