The negotiating framework, agreed in 2022, requires inclusion of Bulgarians in the country’s constitution.
North Macedonia’s path toward membership is clearly defined and hinges on the implementation of the agreed negotiating framework, EU Ambassador to Skopje Michalis Rokas said.
Rokas stressed that the framework was unanimously adopted by all EU member states and that Brussels is ready to move quickly once the commitments are fulfilled. He acknowledged public frustration in North Macedonia over the slow accession process, but said the EU remains a reliable partner.
The negotiating framework, agreed in 2022 under the so-called French proposal, requires constitutional amendments, including the inclusion of Bulgarians in the country’s constitution, as well as full implementation of the 2017 friendship and good-neighbourliness treaty with Bulgaria and its accompanying protocols. The next intergovernmental conference with the EU can only take place once these conditions are met. | BGNES