North Macedonia Has ‘Historic Opportunity,’ EU’s Michel Says Amid Protests

European Council President Charles Michel has urged North Macedonia to back a French-proposed compromise on ending a dispute with neighboring Bulgaria that has blocked the country’s bid to join the European Union. Michel told a news conference in Skopje on July 5 that long-delayed talks to admit North Macedonia into the EU could begin immediately if it accepted the proposal. “Together we are on the verge of a possible breakthrough in your country’s EU accession process,” Michel said, speaking alongside Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski. Michel said the country had a “historic opportunity” to agree to the beginning of negotiations…