Von der Leyen Won't Act as Mediator: 'Dialogue' Instead of Formal EU Intervention in the Dispute
Instead of formal EU mediation, von der Leyen told Skopje and Sofia the dispute can be overcome through intensive bilateral meetings and dialogue — leaving the resolution in the two governments' own hands.
Despite expectations that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's visit would bring more concrete European intervention in the dispute with Bulgaria, her message to President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova was that the dispute "can be overcome through intensive meetings and dialogue" — wording that leaves the resolution entirely in the two governments' own hands, with Brussels not taking on a formal mediating role.
This position is consistent with earlier signals — Brussels has so far avoided directly engaging in the bilateral talks between Skopje and Sofia, recommending stronger bilateral communication instead. The advice for a bilateral meeting in Sofia next week stems precisely from this approach — the EU is not taking on a mediating function, merely encouraging direct communication.
For Macedonia, the difference between "EU mediation" and "an encouraged bilateral meeting" isn't merely semantic — formal mediation would mean Brussels assuming some responsibility and pressure on both sides, while the current approach means the final outcome depends almost entirely on direct negotiations between Skopje and Sofia, without outside arbitration.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 4, 2026
