With an absolute majority of 194 votes in favour, the National Assembly approved a decision on the progress of the Republic of North Macedonia in the EU accession process, BGNES reports.

There was not a single vote against and not a single abstention from the deputies present in the plenary. Before the vote, MPs also adopted three editorial amendments to the decision.

Boyko Borissov, leader of the GERB party, said: “We insist that the Good Neighbourhood Agreement with North Macedonia be respected”.

The decision states that Bulgaria remains fully committed to the European consensus of July 2022 and calls on the authorities in the RSM to strictly implement the agreements they have undertaken.

"Any attempts within EU formats and institutions to renegotiate, circumvent or ignore elements of the agreements reached are unacceptable," the text reads.

It also states that the EU institutions are called upon to continue their efforts to guarantee the rights of the Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as those of other communities, including their right to preserve and develop their cultural and historical heritage, language, ancestral memory and identity.

With the decision, our country expects, in line with the European Consensus of 2022, North Macedonia to develop and present a targeted Action Plan for the protection of the rights of people belonging to minorities or communities, accompanying the Roadmap on the Rule of Law.

This plan, the implementation of which will be monitored throughout North Macedonia's EU accession process, should contain clear, measurable and effective measures to protect the human rights of vulnerable groups in the society of the Republic of North Macedonia. | BGNES