The question of the constitutional changes and relations with Bulgaria is back at the centre of political debate. The ruling VMRO-DPMNE says "the time of one-sided concessions is over" and demands reciprocity in relations with Sofia - not new conditions beyond the European criteria. The opposition SDSM and Venko Filipche accuse them of actually blocking the process, while the government fires back that SDSM is offering "submission."

Behind it all stands the statement of European Council President Antonio Costa, who confirmed that adopting the agreed constitutional changes remains the only path to formally opening membership negotiations. "What was agreed must be fulfilled - nothing more and nothing less," Costa said, referring to the 2022 agreement.

The constitutional changes concern writing minorities into the constitution - according to Brussels, the only condition, with no additional guarantees. But in domestic politics that very same condition is read in two opposite ways: some say it's the final step toward the EU, others that it's a national humiliation. The citizen, trapped between the two readings, no longer knows who to believe.

And here is the heart of the problem that neither side wants to say out loud: both the government and the opposition use Bulgaria as a domestic political weapon. When one side is in power, a concession is treason; when they come to power, that same concession becomes statesmanship. Macedonia waits at the EU's door like at a municipal counter - with the difference that at the counter you at least know which queue is yours. Here, the order of the queue is changed by whoever sits in the chair.