Sofia-Skopje deadlocked, parties accept French proposal

Northern Macedonia and Bulgaria today reached an agreement to resolve the stalemate between them, given a French proposal. The agreement paves the way for the official launch of Skopje's EU membership talks, but Tirana.

Achieving the deal, French President Emmanuel Macron, who led the presidency of the European Union these six months and committed himself to finding a solution even during the NATO summit in Madrid.

“During the NATO summit, there were intensive talks on overcoming the stalemate between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

European Council President Charles Michel later wrote on Twitter that he welcomed the French <x0 resolution for an agreement that would pave the way for opening membership talks with North Macedonia. The solution provides answers to the concerns raised. We're closer than ever. Now it is time to say yes to”, he wrote with a clear reference to Skopje.

The Northern Macedonia government in its statement said it has accepted a proposal from the French Presidency with ideas referring to its publicly expressed positions”, adding that “is the basis for opening a broad consultative process, first in Government and coalition partners, and then with the president, Parliament and opposition, as well as with the civil sector, experts and the wider public in the country.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama called on Northern Macedonia to accept the French proposal. He wrote that the “proposal, which is also the final one, gives Northern Macedonia the possibility of an unreserved accession and paves the way for the official launch of negotiations for the two countries' membership in the European Union! Macedonian and Albanian brothers in the MV say: Face it!

If all is concluded on time, the likelihood is that the first intergovernmental conference with Albania and Northern Macedonia can be held next week. / VOA