site.btaEU Ambassador in Skopje: No Possibility to Change Negotiation Framework after European Elections

The EU Ambassador to the Republic of North Macedonia, David Geer, said that he does not see any possibility of changing the country's negotiating framework "and this position has not changed since the EU elections". Geer held a meeting with North Macedonia's European Affairs Minister Orhan Murtezani. Geer assessed the meeting as a "good start". The two discussed the country's reform agenda, which is part of the EU's growth plan for the Western Balkans.

"We will assess the government based on what it does. If it wants to move forward on the path of European integration, we will be firm and committed partners," Geer said.

Murtezani argued that he had no doubts about the country's European path, but he said what was holding North Macedonia back was the protocol with Bulgaria, part of the negotiating framework. In his words, "there will be substantial talks in the government and with Brussels to find the best solution without creating problems on the country's path to the EU", and the constitutional changes, which are a condition for a real start of North Macedonia's negotiations with the EU, "will happen, but for this an inclusive process is needed in which there is a broad national consensus". 

On Monday, US Ambassador to North Macedonia Angela Aggeler also expressed confidence that a renegotiation of the negotiating framework by changing the agreements with Bulgaria cannot happen.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said that "the Good Neighbourliness Treaty with Bulgaria could be renegotiated and the French proposal (the negotiating framework) added to it, I see no reason not to add some other proposal that would reflect the demands that the Macedonians in Bulgaria have."