Bulgaria notifies EC that it will not accept proposed EU memebership negotiating framework for North Macedonia

Bulgaria informed the European Commission today, November 6, that it is not able to accept the currently proposed EU memebership negotiating framework for the Republic of Northern Macedonia and the draft declaration to it, as it does not provide the necessary guarantees for the fulfillment of the conditions set by our country.

At the same time, Bulgaria thanks the German Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Warhey for the constructive approach and the daily joint work in search of a solution that is still possible to reach despite the short deadlines.

Zaharieva told Reuters: Our worries are related to the constant claims for a Macedonian minority in our country

For Bulgaria, the option of setting our conditions for the Republic of Northern Macedonia in a declaration of the Council of the EU, accompanying the negotiating framework, is unacceptable. The Council Declaration is not a legally binding instrument and does not provide the legal guarantees sought by Bulgaria. We would have such guarantees if our demands were reflected in the text of the Negotiating Framework, which we insist on, added the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bulgaria's position: We are not ready to support North Macedonia for the start of negotiations with the EU