France and Germany, together with the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, too, have signed a non-paper. They are asking for changes to future EU accession agreements. Their argument is that simply replicating past agreements for new members is no longer enough.
They propose safeguard clauses in specific sectors, as well as a safeguard clause prohibiting backsliding on EU values, primarily concerning the rule of law. Transitional measures in certain areas, as well as a post-membership monitoring mechanism to ensure the proper implementation of the EU acquis, have been proposed as well.
The five countries are also asking for internal reforms within the EU, specifically to ensure that it has the capacity to act, particularly when it comes to decision-making.
Meanwhile, President Siljanovska Davkova has said that her counterpart Iotova, at their meeting in Sofia, was not interested in discussing the Franco-German Non-Paper at all, but rather bilateral issues. However, the Bulgarian President, according to a Nezavisen.mk report has said her country wants nothing more than for North Macedonia to fulfill the negotiating framework.