Von der Leyen: EU wants North Macedonia


              North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski gives a speech to the lawmakers in the Parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, Thursday, July 14, 2022. European Union's leader Ursula von der Leyen has pledged on Thursday North Macedonia's lawmakers to back French proposal on solving bilateral disputes with Bulgaria as condition for tiny Balkan country to open membership talks with the block, while thousands of people are protesting the deal in front of the parliament building. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              Ruling coalition's lawmakers and cabinet ministers applaud as North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski, center, rises a fist after his speech in the Parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. European Union's leader Ursula von der Leyen has pledged on Thursday North Macedonia's lawmakers to back French proposal on solving bilateral disputes with Bulgaria as condition for tiny Balkan country to open membership talks with the block, while thousands of people are protesting the deal in front of the parliament building. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              Ruling coalition's lawmakers applaud during the speech of North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski, in the Parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. European Union's leader Ursula von der Leyen has pledged on Thursday North Macedonia's lawmakers to back French proposal on solving bilateral disputes with Bulgaria as condition for tiny Balkan country to open membership talks with the block, while thousands of people are protesting the deal in front of the parliament building. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              Opposition lawmakers hold banners and blow horns protesting during the speech of North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski in the Parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. European Union's leader Ursula von der Leyen has pledged on Thursday North Macedonia's lawmakers to back French proposal on solving bilateral disputes with Bulgaria as condition for tiny Balkan country to open membership talks with the block, while thousands of people are protesting the deal in front of the parliament building. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              Opposition lawmakers hold banners and blow horns protesting during the speech of North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski in the Parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. North Macedonia got a boost from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday for the country's hopes of eventually joining the European Union amid a dispute with Bulgaria.  (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives at the Parliament building to address the lawmakers in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. Ursula von der Leyen pledged Thursday her backing for a French proposal that will pave the way for accession talks for the tiny Balkan country and eliminate Bulgaria’s objections. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, talks with North Macedonia's President Stevo Pendarovski upon her arrival at the presidential office in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. Ursula von der Leyen pledged Thursday her backing for a French proposal that will pave the way for accession talks for the tiny Balkan country and eliminate Bulgaria’s objections. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a speech to the lawmakers in the Parliament building, while the opposition lawmakers hold banners protesting, in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. Ursula von der Leyen pledged Thursday her backing for a French proposal that will pave the way for accession talks for the tiny Balkan country and eliminate Bulgaria’s objections. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              Opposition lawmakers hold banners protesting during the speech of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the Parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. Ursula von der Leyen pledged Thursday her backing for a French proposal that will pave the way for accession talks for the tiny Balkan country and eliminate Bulgaria’s objections. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              People hold the old and the current national flags and chant slogans during a protest in front of the parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged her backing for a French proposal that will pave the way for accession talks for the tiny Balkan country and eliminate Bulgaria’s objections. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              People hold banners and the old national flag and chant slogans during a protest in front of the parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged her backing for a French proposal that will pave the way for accession talks for the tiny Balkan country and eliminate Bulgaria’s objections. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              People hold old national flags and chant slogans during a protest in front of the parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. European Union's leader Ursula von der Leyen has pledged on Thursday North Macedonia's lawmakers to back French proposal on solving bilateral disputes with Bulgaria as condition for tiny Balkan country to open membership talks with the block, while thousands of people are protesting the deal in front of the parliament building. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              People hold the old and the current national flags and chant slogans during a protest in front of the parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. European Union's leader Ursula von der Leyen has pledged on Thursday North Macedonia's lawmakers to back French proposal on solving bilateral disputes with Bulgaria as condition for tiny Balkan country to open membership talks with the block, while thousands of people are protesting the deal in front of the parliament building. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              A woman holds a banner reading in Macedonian "United! Macedonians fight for their rights" during a protest in front of the parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. European Union's leader Ursula von der Leyen has pledged on Thursday North Macedonia's lawmakers to back French proposal on solving bilateral disputes with Bulgaria as condition for tiny Balkan country to open membership talks with the block, while thousands of people are protesting the deal in front of the parliament building. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a speech to the lawmakers in the Parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. The European Union's leader pledged on Thursday North Macedonia's lawmakers to back the French proposal on solving bilateral disputes with Bulgaria as condition for the tiny Balkan country to open membership talks with the block, while thousands of people are protesting the deal in front of the parliament building. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a speech to the lawmakers in the Parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. The European Union's leader pledged on Thursday North Macedonia's lawmakers to back the French proposal on solving bilateral disputes with Bulgaria as condition for the tiny Balkan country to open membership talks with the block, while thousands of people are protesting the deal in front of the parliament building. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
            
              European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a speech to the lawmakers in the Parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Thursday, July 14, 2022. The European Union's leader pledged on Thursday North Macedonia's lawmakers to back the French proposal on solving bilateral disputes with Bulgaria as condition for the tiny Balkan country to open membership talks with the block, while thousands of people are protesting the deal in front of the parliament building. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)