MEP Pledged Support for Iva Mihaylova Case
Ivaylo Valchev aims to include the legal case in a report on North Macedonia to secure medical access.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Legislative Policy
European Parliament member Ivaylo Valchev has pledged to seek the inclusion of the Iva Mihaylova legal case in an upcoming European Parliament progress report. Mihaylova, a dual citizen of Bulgaria and North Macedonia, is facing a pending court case in Kocani and currently lacks access to necessary medical treatment.
Why it matters
The case has become a focal point for humanitarian cooperation as North Macedonia remains an EU accession candidate. Officials seek to address the denial of permission for Mihaylova to leave the country for medical care not available locally.
The 25th meeting of the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee resulted in a formal provision on cross-border humanitarian cooperation. It remains unknown if this provision will be sufficient to sway the local court in Kocani.
The players
Ivaylo Valchev
Ivaylo Valchev is a member of the European Parliament who attended the 25th meeting of the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Iva Mihaylova
Iva Mihaylova is a dual citizen of Bulgaria and North Macedonia currently facing a pending legal case in the city of Kocani.
The details
During the human rights session of the committee meeting in Skopje, Valchev emphasized the humanitarian urgency of the case. A North Macedonian court has previously blocked the defendant from traveling to Bulgaria for specialized care, a decision that has prompted international attention.
Timeline
The legal case involving Iva Mihaylova originated in 2026.
Ivaylo Valchev met with Iva Mihaylova in Kocani on September 24, 2026.
The meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee took place on September 25, 2026.
Political Context
The opposition party and local officials in North Macedonia maintain that court cases are sovereign matters independent of EU accession requirements. This creates a structural tension between EU human rights advocacy and national judicial autonomy.
This policy move may influence how dual citizens navigate cross-border legal disputes during pending court cases in EU candidate nations. Readers should monitor future parliamentary reports for changes in how humanitarian medical exemptions are treated in judicial proceedings.
The takeaway
The case highlights the complex intersection of national sovereignty and international humanitarian standards in the Western Balkans. Establishing clear procedures for medical travel during ongoing legal disputes remains a critical challenge for regional diplomatic relations.
What happens next
Ivaylo Valchev plans to organize a meeting in Brussels for non-governmental organizations from Western Balkan countries to discuss regional cooperation.
Further reading
For broader insights on European oversight, visit the Legislative Policy section.
