The French plan for providing European guarantees related to the fulfillment of the Bulgarian conditions by North Macedonia provides an opportunity for resolving the disputed issues. According to Hristo Ivanov, co-chair of the Democratic Bulgaria parliamentary group, rejecting the plan would mean missing out on a good opportunity.

According to Mr. Ivanov, the most important parameter of this plan is that the European Commission would monitor whether the Republic of North Macedonia includes Bulgarians in the constitution of the country as people who are among the founders of the republic, as the issue was not just a matter of recognizing a national minority.

 If North Macedonia did not meet this requirement, there would be no negotiations on the first chapter, Ivanov said, adding that this was a success for Bulgarian diplomacy, not a national betrayal as some critics say.