Von der Leyen in Skopje on Friday: What a Few Hours Can Actually Change
The European Commission president visits Skopje on October 2 as part of her Western Balkans tour, but the key obstacle — constitutional amendments and the dispute with Bulgaria — remains unchanged after the visit.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives in Skopje on Friday, October 2, as part of a three-day tour of the Western Balkans (September 30 – October 2). The visit is expected to include meetings with the country's top leadership and talks on progress toward EU membership.
Brussels has already made clear that constitutional amendments incorporating the Bulgarian minority remain a precondition for further progress in negotiations. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos recently stressed this is "a condition agreed between Macedonia and all 27 EU member states." Sofia, for its part, signals openness to dialogue but refuses to alter existing conditions, demanding that Macedonia "fulfill the obligations it has undertaken," while Skopje seeks greater EU involvement in future talks with Bulgaria and guarantees that no new bilateral demands will derail the process.
The key question isn't whether Brussels will reaffirm Macedonia's European perspective — that's nearly certain — but whether real political space exists to move a process that has been stuck for years between European conditions and the Macedonian-Bulgarian dispute. Analysts believe the visit will mainly serve to maintain diplomatic momentum rather than unlock genuine progress.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · September 30, 2026
