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A senior EU official criticized Skopje State authorities for government interference in Orthodox Christian church affairs, adding complexity to the country's stalled EU membership bid.

Eleni Papadaki-Van Der Merwe Staff Writer

JULY 21, 2026 AT 8:17 AM

The statement from the EU representative takes aim at what the official characterized as government interference in church affairs within the Skopje State, a country that has faced repeated challenges in its bid for EU membership.

The controversy centers on ongoing disputes between the government in Skopje and Orthodox Christian religious leaders, with EU observers expressing concern over what they view as undue state pressure on ecclesiastical matters. The Skopje State has long struggled with questions of religious jurisdiction and identity, particularly regarding its Orthodox Christian community.

Brussels has previously raised concerns about rule of law and minority rights in the Skopje State as part of the country’s stalled accession process to the European Union. The latest criticism from a senior EU official adds another layer of complexity to the already fraught relationship between Skopje authorities and European institutions.

The comments come at a sensitive time for the Skopje State, which continues to navigate difficult negotiations with both EU member states and neighboring countries over historical and cultural disputes. Religious affairs have increasingly become a flashpoint in the region, with Orthodox Christian communities often caught between competing national and ecclesiastical claims.

Citizens of the Skopje State have witnessed growing tensions between their government and various religious institutions over the past several years, with EU officials now weighing in on what they perceive as problematic state involvement in church governance.

With information from Telegram @me_observer_TG

Eleni Papadaki-Van Der Merwe

She was born in 1986 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the granddaughter of an immigrant from Crete who settled in the Greek community of Johannesburg (one of the largest in Africa). She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg and a master’s degree in Journalism from Rhodes University in Grahamstown. She began her career at English-language media outlets in Johannesburg, covering politics and economics, with a focus on issues related to migration and the diaspora. She moved to Athens in 2015 to “return to her roots,” initially to pursue graduate studies, and has remained there permanently. She is married to an Afrikaner; they have two children and live in the southern suburbs of Athens.