North Macedonia’s MFA: Bulgaria considers protocols part of the Negotiating Framework, unlike our interpretation

The dialogue between Macedonia and Bulgaria will continue as a natural process, but the Government will not accept concessions that affect the national interest, history, or identity of the country, the cabinet of Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski told “Lokalno”.

Responding to a question about alternatives for opening negotiations with the European Union and the practical meaning of the fact that Protocol 2 of the Agreement on Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation with Bulgaria is not included in the Negotiating Framework, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underlined Mucunski’s stance on the need for a clear, predictable, and guaranteed process based on European criteria.

From Minister Mucunski’s cabinet, they let it be known that he clarified at the press conference that, from a legal perspective, the protocols do not constitute an integral part of the Negotiating Framework. According to him, the admission process should be developed on the basis of European criteria, not bilateral interpretations.

The Ministry also relays that Mucunski has once again requested clarity, predictability, and guarantees on how the European integration process will unfold.

According to the Foreign Minister, the disagreement is linked to the fact that Bulgaria interprets these issues differently and considers the so-called protocols as an inseparable part of the Negotiating Framework.