Bulgaria’s Presidency: The French proposal on the issue of North Macedonia is the best so far, but not precise enough

The French proposal for the European integration of the Republic of North Macedonia is a response to the consistent policy of President Rumen Radev in defending the national interest and the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians. It is the best so far, but it is not precise enough in all aspects, the head of state's press secretariat said on June 22.

President Radev on North Macedonia: I urge Bulgaria's Council of Ministers not to hide behind the Parliament, it is the leading institution

The bilateral protocol that Bulgaria and the RNM are to sign as an integral part of the negotiating framework lacks sufficient mechanisms, criteria and deadlines to give real guarantees that the RNM will indeed radically change its policy towards the Bulgarians and Bulgaria, the Presidency said.

The Presidency added that without a bilateral protocol, the negotiating framework does not give any guarantees for a change in bilateral relations.

"Today we have seen that the formerly ruling are ready for another retreat from national interests. Seeking legitimacy from outside rather than in front of the citizens is both wrong and harmful. We hope that the current government remembers that it took power by declaring itself to be continuing the change initiated in Bulgaria by the Head of State and to refine the bilateral protocol before saying 'yes' to the start of the negotiations of the RNM for membership in the European Union," the Presidency further explained.

The Presidency said that it was extremely unpleasant that part of the so-called political elite in Bulgaria looked like puppets on strings, orchestrated from the outside, including when it came to defending national interests.

"Contrary to the nihilistic propaganda that anyone who defends our national interest is a 'Putinist', it is the fast track for the RNM that serves interests external to the EU that can destabilise both the region and Europe. The Bulgarian position, which is for a sustainable and irreversible process of European integration of the RNM, is a defence of the European Union itself," the Presidency added.

"The issue of the European integration of the Republic of North Macedonia is of paramount importance, first and foremost, for the future of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people on both sides of the border and the politicians sworn in to serve the people should remember this," the Presidency further said.