Sofia, 22 June 2022 (MIA) – June 23 is not the deadline by which Bulgaria should respond regarding the proposal of the French EU Presidency for unblocking North Macedonia’s European path, and this can happen in another format until the end of the Presidency, namely by the end of the month, reads a report of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted to the National Assembly’s foreign affairs committee dated June 20. The Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) has said the report briefs MPs the so-called French proposal creates “favorable conditions for defense of the Bulgarian national interest”. The draft-protocol of the upcoming second meeting of the intergovernmental commission between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, the report on the development of bilateral relations and the draft-negotiating framework for North Macedonia have also been forwarded to the parliament. According to the Bulgarian MFA, there is no agreement reached with Skopje over a text that provides for a first EU intergovernmental conference right after North Macedonia incorporates “citizens living in the country who are part of the Bulgarian people”. “Instead, Skopje insists that incorporation of the Bulgarians as a statehood nation is set as a benchmark for the opening of the first cluster ‘Fundamentals’ in the negotiating process,” reads the report. It adds it is key that the protocol is signed and approved by the governments in Sofia and Skopje prior to Bulgaria’s approval of the negotiating framework. “It is not realistic to expect all EU member-states to support the country’s position over the Macedonian language,” reads the report while noting this stance came as a result of discussions at a European level over the past three years.