N. Macedonia PM on start of EU accession talks

North Macedonia approved a French proposal that opens the way for negotiations to join the European Union and overcome Bulgarian objections. Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski announced that North Macedonia will start accession talks with EU on July 19.

There were 68 votes in favour of the proposal in the 120-member chamber, with the leftist coalition, which has 61 seats, getting the backing of small ethnic Albanian parties.

Under the proposal, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron last month, North Macedonia would commit to changing its constitution to recognize a Bulgarian minority, protect minority rights and banish hate speech, as Bulgaria, an EU member since 2007, has demanded.

The deal would also unblock the start of negotiations for neighbouring Albania, another EU hopeful.