Brussels, 21 June 2022 (MIA) – French Minister of State for European Affairs, Clement Beaune, cleared up Tuesday some of the dilemmas related to the French proposal on the negotiating framework but did not go into details so as not to compromise the negotiations, MIA reports from Brussels. Asked by MIA at today’s press conference after the General Affairs Council if the French proposal was introducing bilateral issues between North Macedonia and Bulgaria into the negotiating framework, Minister Beaune said the proposal does not go against Macedonian interests but added that Bulgaria’s concerns should be carefully considered. “We were very clear, in communication with the European Commission and our European partners, that the negotiating framework is not the place for bilateral negotiations. There is a bilateral blockade for several months now. I don’t think that anything we do will be against the interests of North Macedonia but quite the contrary. If the negotiations can move forward with the help of the Commission, I think it is in everyone’s benefit to say that some questions are not just of bilateral nature but involve Bulgaria’s relations with North Macedonia against the backdrop of the accession negotiations. It is a very detailed and complicated process, many member-states have pointed out that accession negotiations are not the place to deal with bilateral disputes, but that some aspects of that dispute could be dealt with in a targeted way as part of the negotiating process. That is the heart of the problem, to find exactly what exactly what the target is going to be and what we’re going to be targeting on,” said Beaune. According to him, obvious questions are taken very cautiously. “In general, we have a set of rules that are the same for all candidate countries and are valid for all Union members as well. There are a number of steps that have to be taken in a certain order. Some are more symbolic and substantial but we would not want to do anything to compromise the outcome of the negotiations,” noted Beaune. He expressed recognition for the efforts made in Skopje and Sofia. “We all want to see the negotiations start, that’s the bottom line. I think that expression of good will has come the first time in months from the Bulgarian government as well. Yes, it is a very sensitive question for Sofia but things are moving in the right direction, everyone is quite hopeful and that is reflected in our current position,” added Beaune. On the coming Western Balkans summit and the uncertainty over the participation of the leaders from Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia, the French Minister said “we will try to involve as many parties as possible.” European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič highlighted the importance of starting accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. “The opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia will open a completely new chapter in our relations with the Western Balkans because enlargement will become more tangible, will move on the concrete negotiations on the chapters. We know that Albania and North Macedonia are mostly well prepared and we count on the remaining weeks of the French Presidency, whereas the Commission is very supportive of that effort because this is a signal that the Western Balkans needs in this difficult time. We want to make the European perspective for all the countries of the Western Balkans very tangible and very clear,” said Šefčovič.