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The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) expresses grave concern regarding the recent decision by the European Parliament to remove the phrase “Macedonian Language and Identity” from Macedonia's progress report on EU path. Erasure of the Macedonian identity and language is contrary to humanity and the founding documents of the European Union itself. Over the years, Macedonia’s neighboring countries, namely Greece and Bulgaria, have explicitly denied the existence of the Macedonian people, language, identity, and even right to use the name Macedonia. The remarks by Bulgarian and Greek members of the European Parliament—delivered under the institutional roof of the European Union—are deeply troubling and incompatible with the founding values of the Union: human dignity, equality, respect for minorities, and the rule of law.
This is not an isolated provocation or rhetorical misstep. Rather, it is part of a decades-long, state-backed effort by both Greece and Bulgaria to suppress Macedonian national identity through legal, academic, and diplomatic means. For the thirty-four years of an independent Macedonian state, other nations have attempted to dictate the terms of Macedonia’s national identity. These efforts aim to reduce the Macedonian people to a mere regional curiosity, rather than a nation with a deep-rooted history, culture, and legitimate place among the peoples of Europe. Macedonian minorities across the region are marginalized and mistreated by governments sanctioned by the European Union, while the EU continues to claim a moral high ground.
The European Court on Human Rights has ruled against Bulgaria over a dozen times in regards to violations of Macedonian self-expression and freedom of assembly by denying organizational registration, disallowing gatherings, and various other actions against the civil and human rights of ethnic Macedonians in Bulgaria.
This mistreatment towards the Macedonian identity by Bulgaria has historically been an issue. Since the Balkan Wars from 1912 to 1913, Bulgaria has participated in genocide and ethinic cleansing upon the Macedonian people through assimilation policies. Even worse, in 1943, during the Holocaust, Bulgaria deported 98% of the Macedonian Jewish population to the Treblinka extermination camp and has yet to acknowledge this atrocity and apologize. Bulgaria goes so far as to claim that Bulgarians and Macedonians are ‘one and the same people’ and that the Macedonian national identity is a product of foreign interference.
Macedonia has continuously embraced democratic values, coexistence, and dialogue—even when asked to make painful compromises for the sake of regional stability. The Macedonian government has amended the constitution 32 times in an attempt to join the international community as all other states seek to do. These actions have not been reciprocated whatsoever – indeed, international organizations and foreign governments feel as if they can endlessly request amendments to another constitution while failing to act to protect minorities within their own borders – or allowing politicians to withdraw and table Macedonian human rights.
Self-identification is a natural and inalienable human right. No government, bilateral treaty, or political pressure can extinguish one’s identity. This right cannot be suspended—by Greece, by Bulgaria, or even by the Republic of Macedonia itself. Denial of national identity is an affront to the liberal values the institutions of the European Union claim to espouse. To allow it for some and not others is fundamentally wrong. Forced disavowal of history, language, art or culture is suppression and oppression. Opening accession talks while erasing amendments explicitly meant to protect the human rights of all is against the values of Europe itself.
The Republic of Macedonia is more than a modern state—it is the embodiment of the Macedonian historical right to self-determination and the guardian of our people’s collective memory and aspirations. It carries the duty to protect the rights, dignity, and cultural survival of all Macedonians, wherever they may live.
Today, we reaffirm our basic truths:
- The Macedonian people exist—and always have.
- The Macedonian language exists—and continues to be spoken across borders and generations.
- Macedonian communities exist in both Greece and Bulgaria—despite relentless attempts to erase them.
- These communities are entitled to the same human rights and protections that the
- The European Union guarantees to all of its citizens.
Let us be clear: the Macedonian language, history, name, and identity are not political currency. The Macedonian cause is not about nationalism—it is about freedom, human rights, historical truth, and equal dignity among nations.
If the European Parliament truly wishes to be a beacon of democratic values, it must reject all forms of denial and discrimination. The European Parliament cannot demand reforms and good neighborly relations from Macedonia, while turning a blind eye to the open suppression of Macedonian identity by its member states, Bulgaria and Greece..
From a moral, historical, and civic standpoint, we cannot remain silent. Silence is not neutrality—it is complicity.
UMD demands that the institutions of the European Union uphold their own principles. We call on all Macedonians and friends of Macedonia to stand united and to be vocal. This is not merely about borders or names—this is about the dignity of a people. Self-determination is for all – not only those already in the room.
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