MEPs deleted the terms Macedonian language and identity from the Progress Report on Macedonia prepared by Austrian MEP Thomas Weitz, and in the final version of the document, which was adopted, there is no mention of Macedonian language and Macedonian identity, just like in all previous reports.
At today's plenary session of the EP, only the vote on the amendments and the adoption of the entire report was held, after the discussion among MEPs ended last night.
The joint amendment to delete the Macedonian language, submitted by MEPs Andrzej Halicki on behalf of the European People's Party (EPP), Kathleen Van Brempt on behalf of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (SD) and Dan Barna on behalf of the liberal group "Let's Renew Europe", was adopted by a majority vote.
The amendment refers to Article 3 of the Report, the part where it says: “Members of the European Parliament call on the European Council to publicly and unequivocally signal its intention to swiftly and unconditionally adopt a positive decision to move to the next phase of the accession negotiations with Macedonia to the EU, once the conditions of its conclusions of 18 July 2022 have been met, fully respecting the Macedonian language and identity…”.
With today's vote, the words: "fully respecting the Macedonian language and identity" have been deleted from this paragraph.
Article 7 of the EP report states that it "affirms the importance of the unequivocal recognition and respect for the Macedonian language and identity as an integral part of the heritage and constitutional order of the nation, but also of European values, notes that the European institutions in their country reports and official documents constantly refer to the Macedonian language, in accordance with the international recognition and implementation of the Prespa Agreement, and confirms that respect for linguistic, cultural and national identity is a fundamental component of the EU accession process and a cornerstone of democratic societies, which will be further confirmed by accession to the family of European nations."
The three MEPs also submitted an amendment to this article, requesting the deletion of the first part of the paragraph mentioning the Macedonian language and identity, and the amendment was adopted. In the final version of the Report, Article 7 begins with the section “affirms that respect for linguistic, cultural and national identity is a fundamental component”.
A Bulgarian MEP had an amendment to put the Macedonian language on the provisional list, but it was rejected. The author of the Report, Thomas Weinz, also had amendments, but they were also rejected.
Previously, the report passed through the Foreign Policy Committee of the European Parliament and contained the terms Macedonian language and identity, but in the final version, the language and identity of the Macedonians do not exist as a term.
The report was adopted with 461 votes in favor, 121 against, and 107 abstentions. The document contains recommendations for further progress in the rule of law, the fight against corruption, public administration reform, and the strengthening of democracy.
