A Study of the Two Documents that Create the Framework of the Contemporary Relations between Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria

Marolov, Dejan (2022) A Study of the Two Documents that Create the Framework of the Contemporary Relations between Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria. European Journal of Economics, Law and Politics, 9 (1). ISSN 2518-3761

Text
ELP-article-2-1-3.pdf
Download (561kB)

Official URL: http://elpjournal.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/EL...

Abstract

The Macedonian and Bulgarian states are two neighboring countries between
which there is a rather unique dispute. Namely, the Republic of Bulgaria believes that
the Macedonian language and the Macedonians in general, in the past did not exist and
in fact were Bulgarians. The non-recognition of a separate Macedonian language by
Bulgaria, for many years caused practical problems between the two countries because
it was not possible to sign any bilateral Agreement. In order to overcome the previous
disputed situations, two legal acts were signed, the Declaration of 1999 and, later, the
2017 Agreement. These two documents provide specific solutions to these issues. In
this paper the texts of the two legal acts are analyzed and compared. The solutions
provided in these acts form the framework and trajectory of future relations between
the two countries. Having in mind the fact that Republic of Bulgaria is also part of the
European Union (EU), and its neighbor is only a candidate, there is a danger that
bilateral issues will indirectly become part of the package of conditions for EU
membership and thus practically go beyond their bilateral character. As we will see
below in the analysis of the texts, there is a certain asymmetry in the provisions of these
two legal acts, primarily in relation to the Macedonian side. Undoubtedly, there are
some positive sides but at the same time certain solutions listed in the two legal acts
seem to be a source of new problems in the Macedonian-Bulgarian relations.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Social Sciences > Political Science
Divisions:	Faculty of Law
Depositing User:	Dejan Marolov
Date Deposited:	03 May 2022 11:34
Last Modified:	03 May 2022 11:34
URI:	https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/29676

Actions (login required)

View Item