The Center for European Strategies – Eurothink begins the implementation of the project : “Demystifying the (un)neighborly relations on the path to the EU: The case of North Macedonia and Bulgaria”. The project is supported by the Canadian Embassy in Belgrade, through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).
The goal of the project is to tackle disinformation in North Macedonia with reference to European integration issues, in particular developments related to the dispute between North Macedonia and Bulgaria. Ever since the Bulgarian veto against North Macedonia’s opening of EU accession negotiations in 2020, the issue has dominated the public discourse and has opened the space for disinformation aimed at spreading Euroscepticism and overall anti-European narratives in the country. It is especially important to provide relevant information after North Macedonia has started accession negotiations with the EU. For this purpose, in the next 6 months, Eurotink will use the www.eu.org.mk platform as a resource for reliable information regarding European integration processes and relations with Bulgaria.
In order to accomplish the overall goals, the following specific activities will be carried out within the timeframe of the project:
- Online resource hub: The portal eu.org.mk will be used. A timeline of the dispute, as well as other project results will be published on our specialized platform on EU integration.;
- Public policy briefs/op-eds: Аt least 8 analyses that will result from the monitoring of implementing the Treaty of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation;
- Affirmative action to improve relations: 2 online discussions with Bulgarian prominent citizens and activists on topics about fake news and future cooperation between both societies/countries;
- Networking with CSOs from Bulgaria: Kickoff event and final conference with intellectuals, activists and CSO representatives from Bulgaria.
