North Macedonia faces EU accession scrutiny and border disputes

Bulgarian President Iliana Jotova has expressed concerns regarding North Macedonia’s progress toward European Union membership. During a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Jotova noted that North Macedonia has not shown progress in fulfilling obligations established in 2022. She called for the country to follow European accession policies to ensure the membership process adheres to established rules and achievements.

Separately, regional border tensions persist as a temporary pedestrian crossing between Ogut, North Macedonia, and Kalova, Serbia, is set to open on September 8, 2026, to celebrate North Macedonia’s Independence Day. This decision has drawn criticism from residents of Llojani and Miratoc, who remain isolated by a closed border. Residents argue that the selective opening of crossings creates inequality and fails to address the long-standing need for better communication between families and communities split by the border.