site.btaEU Resolution Will Guarantee Protection of North Macedonia's National Interests, Opposition Leader Filipce Says during Paris Visit

The Republic of North Macedonia must continue on its European path, actively, with results and vision, Venko Filipce, leader of the opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), said, at a working visit to Paris on Tuesday. During the visit, whose purpose, according to Filipce, is to promote and defend North Macedonia's national interest and position, he held working meetings with French political representatives from the General Secretariat for European Affairs, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the French Parliament.

“This is a time for political maturity and shared responsibility. SDSM is ready to lead with a proactive approach and solutions that will move Macedonia forward, towards the European Union,” the SDSM leader said. Last week, Filipce said that the opposition party was preparing a document that will be submitted to North Macedonia's parliament, outlining the country's red lines.

“The preparation of the resolution, which will be a win-win solution for the state and the citizens, is in the final phase. With this resolution, we will offer a national mechanism for dealing with possible unprincipled demands from Bulgaria during the negotiations if they in any way deviate from the Negotiating Framework,” Filipce said.

“By adopting the resolution with national consensus, we will confirm these positions, but we will also build a common stance on how to protect them in domestic institutions. With this document, we will provide a clear timeline for the next steps and reforms as a final unblocking of the European path,” Filipce added.

The document proposed by the SDSM was met with a categorical rejection by the country's President Gordana Siljanovska, who said it was unnecessary. North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said that he viewed it as a document from a party that had not fulfilled its promises not to change the name of the country, nor had it fulfilled the requirements of the referendum.