Skopje, 1 July 2022 (MIA) – We have a European proposal to unblock our Euro-integration process and the decision over our future and the Europeanization of our country depends on us, says Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski. PM Kovachevski told a press briefing on Friday that the modified proposal is not only French but also European, incorporating all of North Macedonia’s demands and remarks to the previous version of the document. “We will lead the country on the right path and make a step forward with cool heads and responsibility,” said Kovachevski. He added that the country needs to move on its defined path or linger on the Balkans. “There is no left or right on this path, now is the time to make a decision,” noted Kovachevski. The PM said he was pleased that the Government did not accept the initial proposal at last week’s EU-Western Balkans Summit. “Now we have a proposal that incorporates all of our demands,” said Kovachevski and announced that prior to giving the final answer on whether it accepts the proposal, the Government would consult all state institutions, the President, the Parliament, the political parties, the civil society and the experts. Although the Government can take a decision on the proposal on its own, it will ask for an opinion from the Parliament, be it through a plenary session or the committees. There is no deadline for response to the proposal and it depends solely on North Macedonia whether the path will begin in a few days, weeks, or be further delayed. The changes in the new proposal compared to the previous version relate to the acceptance of North Macedonia’s demand to not include the protocol arising from Article 12 of the Friendship Treaty with Bulgaria in the negotiating framework, i.e. historical issues are not part of the negotiating framework. The second change refers to the timing of the start of the accession negotiations. The initial proposal stated that the first intergovernmental conference (IGC) would be held after the proposal is accepted, but the second IGC and the start of all processes to take place only after North Macedonia changes its Constitution to include the Bulgarians in it. According to the new proposal, negotiations begin with the first IGC, which also launches the screening process. Meanwhile, the constitutional revision would result in the inclusion of Croats, Montenegrins and Bulgarians in the Constitution Preamble and Amendment XII, in the section that lists members of other nations living in the country besides the Macedonian people. As soon as these processes are completed, the second IGC will take place and negotiations by clusters are to begin. The negotiating framework also notes that it will be translated in Macedonian language, without any additions, explanations or footnotes. There is only blank space left in the minutes of the Council session on adoption of the framework, where Bulgaria will put a unilateral statement in which it would explain its position on the language, but this unilateral statement is not part of the negotiating framework. The same right for a unilateral statement on this issue is also provided to North Macedonia in the minutes.