In brief
In Skopje, the Joint Multidisciplinary Commission of Experts on Historical and Educational Issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia returned without any agreed outcomes. Bulgarian delegates highlighted unresolved issues over the representation of the Archbishopric of Ohrid and proposed honoring Dame Gruev, both of which were dismissed by the North Macedonian side. An anti‑fascist commemoration proposal was also rejected, prompting calls from the EU Parliament and Commission for measurable progress.
In Skopje on 5–6 November 2026, the Joint Multidisciplinary Commission of Experts on Historical and Educational Issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia met, yet both sides entered the session with the same resignation that no new agreements emerged, Bulgarian delegates informed the news agency BTA. The meeting ended “in the usual way, with no results,” according to the Bulgarian representatives.
The first agenda item focused on how the Archbishopric of Ohrid is portrayed in North Macedonian history textbooks. Bulgarian experts insisted that the historical narrative was incomplete, while North Macedonian voices of the commission remained unresponsive, leaving the issue unresolved.
Following the discussion on the Archbishopric, the Bulgarian side offered a proposal to honor the legacy of Dame Gruev, an iconic figure who is revered in both countries. “Honoring Dame Gruev would promote a shared historical memory,” one Bulgarian expert said, but the proposal was met with silence from the North Macedonian delegates, who did not move toward a consensus.
North Macedonia then read a statement calling for a joint commemoration of resistance against anti-Semitism, fascism, and National Socialism that began in 1941. The Bulgarian side rejected the idea, arguing that such resistance is already commemorated throughout Europe and should not be limited to the two countries, and the commission refocused on issues from the 11th century.
Both the European Parliament and the European Commission have been urging the commission for tangible outcomes. The European Parliament’s report on North Macedonia’s progress noted that the Joint Multidisciplinary Commission should achieve clear and tangible results, emphasizing that texts must reflect an evidence‑based interpretation of shared history, in accordance with the Second Protocol to the Treaty of Goodneighbourliness with Bulgaria.
The European Commission echoed similar expectations in its report, which also recorded that the historical commission held four meetings between September 2025 and March 2026 without concrete results. It reiterated the need for a solid, mutually agreeable agenda.
Looking ahead, the next session will take place in Sofia in early December 2026, where the two parties are expected to revisit the deadlock and work toward concrete milestones in the ongoing dialogue.
