English
A few days ago, Prime Minister Mickoski pointed out that one EU member state does not accept the action plan for minorities. He noted that for the process of constitutional amendments—an obligation for Macedonia—to even begin, the plan must be accepted by all 27 member states, including Bulgaria. An action plan for minorities is a strategic document in which the state defines specific measures, timelines, responsible institutions, and indicators aimed at improving the position of ethnic, linguistic, religious, or other minority communities. It is not merely a declaration of good intentions, but a plan that must be implemented, with its results subject to monitoring.
In recent years, this document has become part of broader discussions involving Macedonia, the European Union, and Bulgaria. The Government has repeatedly emphasized that the plan was drafted with the participation of experts and through public consultations, and that it addresses the rights of all communities—not just the Bulgarian community. The action plan for minorities serves as a “roadmap” that translates general principles of equality into concrete activities to be carried out by state institutions. Without such a plan, rights often remain guaranteed only on paper; with it, there are specific obligations, deadlines, and mechanisms in place to verify progress.
If approved by Bulgaria and the rest of the EU, it would further regulate issues such as: access to education in the mother tongue;
textbooks and teaching materials; teacher training; reducing school dropout rates among vulnerable groups; use of minority languages in institutions; translation of official documents; access to information in multiple languages; equal access to jobs;
representation in public administration; anti-discrimination measures in employment; support for cultural organizations;
preservation of traditions and heritage; media representation; mechanisms for reporting discrimination; training for institutions;
monitoring of hate speech; consultations with communities; participation in policy-making; improving representation in institutions; responsibility for each measure; deadlines for implementation; success indicators and periodic reports.