Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union

Last updated

Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union
European Union and North Macedonia locator map (with internal borders).svg
StatusNegotiating Candidate
Application
Membership application24 March 2004
Screened & negotiations commence
Chapters closed
Not yet applicable
Memberships & Treaties
Association Agreement
Economic and monetary policy
Travel
Energy
Foreign and military policy
Human rights and international courts
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Impact(27+1)
Population446,828,803
Area4,233,262 km2
1,634,472 mi2
HDI 0.896
GDP (PPP)$25.399 trillion
GDP per capita (PPP)$56,928
GDP$17.818 trillion
GDP per capita$39,940
Gini 30.0
Official Languages 2425
+ 1 (Macedonian)

The accession of North Macedonia to the European Union has been on the current agenda for future enlargement of the EU since 2005, when it became an official candidate for accession. The Republic of Macedonia submitted its membership application in 2004, thirteen years after its independence from Yugoslavia. It is one of nine current EU candidate countries, together with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Contents

The use of the country name "Macedonia" was the object of a dispute with neighboring Greece between 1991 and 2019, resulting in a Greek veto against EU and NATO accession talks, which lasted from 2008 to 2019. After the issue was resolved, the EU gave its formal approval to begin accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania in March 2020. [1]

However, in November 2020, Bulgaria effectively blocked the official start of North Macedonia's EU accession negotiations over what it perceives as slow progress on the implementation of the 2017 friendship treaty between the two countries, state-supported or tolerated hate speech and minority claims towards Bulgaria. [2]

On 24 June 2022, Bulgaria's parliament approved lifting the country's veto on opening EU accession talks with North Macedonia. On 16 July 2022, the Assembly of North Macedonia also approved the revised French proposal, allowing accession negotiations to begin. [3] The start of negotiations was officially launched on 19 July 2022. [4] To make progress, however, the country must change its constitution, including local Bulgarians in it, and overcome the latent opposition of neighbouring Bulgaria. [5]

History

The flags of the European Union and North Macedonia Flags of the European Union and North Macedonia.jpg
The flags of the European Union and North Macedonia

North Macedonia began its formal process of rapprochement with the European Union in 2000, by initiating negotiations about the EU's Stabilisation and Association Process, and it became the first non-EU country in the Balkans to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), on 9 April 2001 in Luxembourg. The agreement was ratified by the Macedonian parliament on 12 April 2001 and came into force on 1 April 2004.

On 22 March 2004, the Republic of Macedonia submitted its application for EU membership. On 6 September 2004, the Macedonian government adopted a National Strategy for European integration, supported by the country's parliament through its Commission for European Issues. The government subsequently began the procedure of answering the questionnaire of the European Commission regarding its performance in preparation for membership in accordance with the Copenhagen criteria, a process that was finished by 31 January 2005. The European Council officially granted the country candidate status on 17 December 2005, after a review and a positive recommendation of the candidacy by the European Commission.

After the naming dispute with Greece was solved in 2019, accession negotiations were expected to start within the same year, but in June 2019 the EU General Affairs Council decided to postpone the decision to October, due to objections from a number of countries including the Netherlands and France. [6] France vetoed the decision again in October. [7] On 25 March 2020 the Council of the European Union decided to open accession negotiations, which was endorsed by the European Council the following day. [8] [9]

On 17 November 2020 Bulgaria blocked the official start of accession talks with the country. [10] North Macedonia was told to offer further guarantees to Bulgaria that it would honour the 2017 friendship treaty, which deals with historical issues. [11]

Name dispute with Greece

A major obstacle for the accession process was the Republic's unresolved objection by Greece over its name, as Greece argued that it implied territorial ambitions towards Greece's own northern province of Macedonia. While the country preferred to be called by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, the European Union, in acknowledgment of concerns raised by Greece, maintained a practice of recognising it only as the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", a compromise of "provisional reference" introduced by the United Nations in 1993. Greece, as any other EU country, has veto power against new accessions, and blocked Macedonian accession due to the naming dispute. [12] [13] [14] [15]

On 12 June 2018, an agreement was reached between Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras and his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev, known as the Prespa agreement, [16] under which the country would be renamed the "Republic of North Macedonia". [17] As part of this deal, Greece explicitly withdrew its previous opposition, allowing the EU to approve on 26 June 2018 a pathway to starting accession talks. [18]

Historical and linguistic dispute with Bulgaria

Although Bulgaria was the first country to recognize the independence of the then Republic of Macedonia, most of its academics, as well as the general public, do not recognize the Macedonian language and nation formed after the Second World War as being separate from Bulgarian proper. [19] As part of the efforts to find a solution to the Macedonia name dispute with Greece, the Macedonian constitution was changed twice (in 1995, and then again in 2018) to formally exclude any possible territorial aspirations towards neighboring countries. [20] [21]

Some Macedonian politicians consider Bulgarian territory to be part of a greater Macedonia, claiming the majority of the population there are oppressed ethnic Macedonians. [22] Macedonia and Bulgaria signed a friendship treaty to improve their complicated relations in August 2017. A joint commission on historical and educational issues was formed in 2018 to serve as a forum where controversial historical and educational issues could be raised and discussed. This commission has made little progress in its work for a period of one year. [23]

In October 2019, Bulgaria set out a "Framework position" warning that it would block the accession process unless North Macedonia fulfilled demands regarding anti-Bulgarian ideology in the country, [24] [25] and ultimately over an 'ongoing nation-building process' based on historical negationism of the Bulgarian identity, culture and legacy in the broader region of Macedonia. [26] [27] [28]

Bulgarian politicians claim North Macedonia remains the only country in NATO, that is an EU-candidate, whose politics is based on communist historical and linguistic dogmas accepted by ASNOM. [29] Concerning the Macedonian language, Bulgaria advises the EU to avoid using the term "Macedonian language" during the accession talks, and instead use the term "Official language of Republic of North Macedonia", reaffirming that it does not recognize the language as separate from Bulgarian. [25] In North Macedonia this is widely perceived as a direct attack on its national identity and language. [30]

In September 2020 Bulgaria has sent an explanatory memorandum to the Council of the European Union containing its framework position on the accession of North Macedonia. [31] On 17 November 2020, Bulgaria refused to approve the European Union's negotiation framework for North Macedonia, effectively blocking the official start of accession talks with this country over slow progress on the implementation of the 2017 Friendship Treaty between the two countries, state-supported or tolerated hate speech and minority claims towards Bulgaria. [2]

The veto received condemnation by some intellectuals, [32] and criticism from international observers. [33] [34] A survey conducted in November 2020, by Alpha Research of 803 people from all over Bulgaria, found that 83.8% of Bulgarians were against the accession of North Macedonia in the EU until the historical dispute is solved, only 10.2% of Bulgarians supported the accession with the rest not having an opinion. [35] [36]

In June 2022 at the very end of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union (January–June), an urgent proposal was put out by the president Emmanuel Macron to resolve the dispute between the two countries. The proposal provoked a political crisis in Bulgaria. On June 8, Slavi Trifonov withdrew his party from Bulgaria's governing coalition, citing the issue of North Macedonia. This faced criticism from President Rumen Radev, who said the proposal was relatively good. However, the government abdicated its responsibility and delegated it entirely to the parliament. As result on 22 June the Bulgarian government faced a motion of no confidence, which it lost. [37] Nevertheless, on 24 June, after heated discussions, the parliament approved lifting the veto. [38] President Macron claimed that the European leaders had put a lot of pressure on Bulgaria to accept this deal, confirming its approval was a "very good signal". On June 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia stated that the speed with which North Macedonia would approach the EU membership, already depended on itself. [39] Two days before the end of the French presidency of the EU, the Prime Minister of North Macedonia Kovačevski stated that the government remains of the opinion that the agreement proposed from Paris and approved by Bulgaria is unacceptable for the country. However, since then, the proposal has been backed by the government of North Macedonia. [40] In early July 2022, protests began in North Macedonia against the French proposal. However, the proposal was accepted by the Assembly of North Macedonia on 16 July 2022. [3]

On 17 July 2022 in Sofia, the foreign ministers of Bulgaria and North Macedonia signed a second bilateral protocol to the Treaty of Good Neighborhood and Friendship between the two countries. Such protocols were supposed to be signed every year, but in practice they have not been signed since 2019. According to the decision of the Bulgarian National Assembly of June 24, the signing of this protocol is a condition for Bulgaria to approve the Negotiating Framework for the Republic of North Macedonia. The protocol contains specific measures and deadlines for the implementation of agreements on historical issues between the two countries, measures against hate speech, etc. [41]

On 24 June 2022, Bulgaria's parliament approved lifting the country's veto on opening EU accession talks with North Macedonia. On 16 July 2022, the Assembly of North Macedonia also approved the revised French proposal, allowing accession negotiations to begin. [3] The start of negotiations was officially launched on 19 July 2022. [4] The approved document includes the condition to stop "hate speech" against all "minorities and communities", that North Macedonia recognize a shared history with Bulgaria, and the inclusion of Bulgarian people as a recognized minority in the Constitution. [42] On July 17, North Macedonia signed a special protocol with Bulgaria to cooperate on these subjects. [43] However, there was no progress in the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in the Constitution of North Macedonia, though in February 2023, the Bulgarian parliament adopted a declaration condemning, an alleged anti-Bulgarian campaign there and warned it could stop North Macedonia's EU integration again. [44]

Domestic politics

EU funding

North Macedonia has so far received €1.3 billion of development aid until 2020 from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, a funding mechanism for EU candidate countries.

Campaign

The government's motto for the candidacy is "The Sun, too, is a star.", referring to the sun from the flag of North Macedonia being displayed among the other stars in the flag of Europe.

Government structuring

North Macedonia's government has established a management infrastructure for the European integration process on the basis of a paper adopted in 1997 under the title "The strategic bases of the Republic of [North] Macedonia on achieving the membership of the European Union". It consists of the following institutions:

The other institutions supporting the EU integration process are the following:

Public opinion

Around 79% of the population of North Macedonia is in favor of EU accession. [45] However, those who think North Macedonia is closer to EU entry today than it was in 2005, when it first received candidate member status, dropped from 57% to 32% between 2018 and 2021.

Chronology of relations with the EU

Timeline
DateEvent
October 1992The Republic of Macedonia appoints its representative in Brussels,[ citation needed ] agreeing to the use of the "former Yugoslav" before its constitutional name ("Republic of Macedonia") designation in bilateral relations.[ citation needed ]
22 December 1995The Republic and the EU establish diplomatic relations. Negotiations commence directed at an agreement with a wide scope of co-operation in the fields of trade, financial operations and transport.
10 March 1996Macedonia becomes a full partner in the PHARE Programme (Poland and Hungary: Assistance for Reconstruction of their Economies).
November 1997The Transport Agreement enters into force
1 January 1998The Cooperation Agreement enters into force.
February 19981st political talks on ministerial level are held in Ohrid, in accordance with the Cooperation Agreement.
11 March 1998A Trade and Textile Agreement is signed (it remains in force until 1998 and is later replaced with a new agreement on 1 January 2000).
21 and 22 March 19981st meeting of a mutual Cooperation Council in Skopje.
5 March 19992nd meeting of the Cooperation Council in Brussels
24 January 2000The European Commission adopts directives regarding co-operation and regarding the official start of negotiations for potential membership.
March 2000Opening of the EU Delegation in Skopje; appointment of the first Chief of the Delegation.
5 April 2000Start of 1st round of negotiations on the SAA.
June 2000Adoption of a Perspective (regulation) on Potential Membership by the European Council in Fiera.
24 November 2000The SAA is initiated at the Zagreb Summit.
December 2000Entering into force of Council Regulation on Introducing Exceptional Trade Measures; Macedonia joins the Regional CARDS Programme 2002–2006.
16 February 2001Interim Agreement on SAA Trade Provisions signed.
9 April 2001SAA and Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade Issues signed. The Agreement enters into force on 1 June 2001.
January 2002Supplementary Protocol on Wine and Spirits, and Textile Products Trade Agreement.
20 February 2003The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, visits Skopje, reconfirming the EU position on the country's perspective for EU membership.
25 July 2003Last of 6 meetings of the Cooperation Council in Brussels.
February 2004"Declaration on the Application for EU membership" signed by the Macedonian parliament.
22 March 2004At a ceremony in Dublin, Ireland, the Macedonian government submitted the application for membership in the EU.
1 April 2004SAA enters into force following the ratifications by all the EU Member States.
Status of SAA ratification
Event North Macedonia [46] Croatia [47] Albania [48] Montenegro [49] [Note 1] Bosnia and
Herzegovina
[51]
Serbia [52] [Note 2] Kosovo [53] [Note 3]
SAA negotiations start2000-04-052000-11-242003-01-312005-10-102005-11-252005-10-102013-10-28 [55]
SAA initialled2000-11-242001-05-142006-02-282007-03-152007-12-042007-11-072014-07-25 [56]
SAA/IA signature2001-04-092001-10-292006-06-122007-10-152008-06-162008-04-292015-10-27 [57]
Interim Agreement:
EC ratification2001-04-272002-01-302006-06-122007-10-152008-06-162009-12-08N/A [Note 4]
SAP state ratification2001-04-272002-01-302006-10-092007-11-142008-06-202008-09-22N/A [Note 4]
entry into force2001-06-012002-03-012006-12-012008-01-012008-07-012010-02-01N/A [Note 4]
Deposit of the instrument of ratification:
SAP state2001-04-272002-01-302006-11-092007-11-132009-02-262008-09-222016-02-26
Austria 2002-09-062002-03-152008-05-212008-07-042009-09-042011-01-13N/A
Belgium 2003-12-292003-12-172008-10-222010-03-292010-03-292012-03-20N/A
Bulgaria joined the EU later2008-05-302009-03-132010-08-12N/A
Croatia joined the EU laterN/A
Cyprus joined the EU later2008-05-302008-11-202009-07-022010-11-26N/A
Czech Republic joined the EU later2008-05-072009-02-192009-07-232011-01-28N/A
Denmark 2002-04-102002-05-082008-04-242008-06-252009-05-262011-03-04N/A
Estonia joined the EU later2007-10-172007-11-222008-09-112010-08-19N/A
Finland 2004-01-062004-01-062007-11-292009-03-182009-04-072011-10-21N/A
France 2003-06-042003-06-042009-02-122009-07-302011-02-102012-01-16N/A
Germany 2002-06-202002-10-182009-02-192009-11-162009-08-142012-02-24N/A
Greece 2003-08-272003-08-272009-02-262010-03-042010-09-202011-03-10N/A
Hungary joined the EU later2007-04-232008-05-142008-10-222010-11-16N/A
Ireland 2002-05-062002-05-062007-06-112009-06-042009-06-042011-09-29N/A
Italy 2003-10-302004-10-062008-01-072009-10-132010-09-082011-01-06N/A
Latvia joined the EU later2006-12-192008-10-172009-11-122011-05-30N/A
Lithuania joined the EU later2007-05-172009-03-042009-05-042013-06-26N/A
Luxembourg 2003-07-282003-08-012007-07-042009-06-112010-12-222011-01-21N/A
Malta joined the EU later2008-04-212008-12-112010-01-072010-07-06N/A
Netherlands 2002-09-092004-04-302007-12-102009-01-292009-09-302012-02-27N/A
Poland joined the EU later2007-04-142009-02-062010-04-072012-01-13N/A
Portugal 2003-07-142003-07-142008-07-112008-09-232009-06-292011-03-04N/A
Romania joined the EU later2009-01-152010-01-082012-05-22N/A
Slovakia joined the EU later2007-07-202008-07-292009-03-172010-11-11N/A
Slovenia joined the EU later2007-01-182008-02-072009-03-102010-12-07N/A
Spain 2002-10-042002-10-042007-05-032009-03-122010-06-152010-06-21N/A
Sweden 2002-06-252003-03-272007-03-212009-03-112009-09-142011-04-15N/A
United Kingdom 2002-12-172004-09-032007-10-162010-01-122010-04-202011-08-11N/A
European Communities or
European Union and Euratom
2004-02-252004-12-212009-02-262010-03-292015-04-302013-07-222016-02-24 [Note 5]
SAA entry into force2004-04-012005-02-012009-04-012010-05-012015-06-012013-09-012016-04-01 [61]
EU membership (SAA lapsed)(TBD)2013-07-01(TBD)(TBD)(TBD)(TBD)(TBD)

N/A: Not applicable.

  1. Montenegro started negotiations in November 2005 while a part of Serbia and Montenegro (SiM). Separate technical negotiations were conducted regarding issues of sub-state organizational competency. A mandate for direct negotiations with Montenegro was established in July 2006. Direct negotiations were initiated on 26 September 2006 and concluded on 1 December 2006. [50]
  2. Serbia started negotiations in November 2005 while part of SiM, with a modified mandate from July 2006.
  3. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but is still claimed by Serbia as part of its territory. The European Union remains divided, with five EU member states not recognizing its independence. The EU launched a Stabilisation Tracking Mechanism for Kosovo] on 6 November 2002 with the aim of aligning its policy with EU standards. On 10 October 2012 the European Commission found that there were no legal obstacles to Kosovo signing a SAA with the EU, as independence is not required for such an agreement. [54]
  4. 1 2 3 No Interim Agreement associated with Kosovo's SAA was concluded. [58]
  5. Kosovo's SAA was the first signed after the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty, which conferred a legal personality to the EU. As a result, unlike previous SAAs Kosovo's is exclusively between it and the EU and Euratom, and the member states are not parties independently. [55] [59] [60]
3 June 20041st meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Committee held in Skopje.
6 September 2004National Strategy for European Integration adopted by the Macedonian government.
14 September 20041st meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Council in Brussels.
1 October 2004Questionnaire on accession preparation submitted to the Macedonian government by the European Commission.
31 January 2005Answers to the Questionnaire finalised by the Macedonian government.
14 February 2005Answers to the Questionnaire submitted to the European Commission by a Macedonian delegation in Brussels.
10 May 2005Additional questions to the Questionnaire of the European Commission that were received on 22 April 2005 are answered, accepted by the Republic's government, and sent to Brussels.
9 November 2005Positive recommendation on Macedonian accession issued by the European Commission.
17 December 2005The European Council in Brussels approves the candidate status.
9 November 2006The European Commission decides to start visa facilitation negotiations with the Republic.
23 June 2008Following the EU summit, the resolution of the naming dispute was added as a precondition to EU accession. [62]
14 October 2009The European Commission recommended the start of the accession negotiations for full-fledged membership of the Republic of Macedonia. [63]
29 March 2012European Commission launches a High Level Accession Dialogue with Skopje. [64]
25 January 2019The Prespa Agreement enters into force on 25 January 2019, ending the decades long naming-dispute. It is outlined in the agreement that Greece will no longer veto the accession talks between North Macedonia and the European Union.
26 March 2020The European Council formally approved start of accession talks. [65]
19 July 2022Accession negotiations started. [66]

Visa liberalisation process

On 1 January 2008 the visa facilitation and readmission agreements between Macedonia and the EU entered into force. [67] Macedonia began a visa liberalisation dialogue with the EU in February 2008 and was added to the list of visa exempt nationals on 19 December 2009, allowing their citizens to enter the Schengen Area, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania without a visa when travelling with biometric passports. [68]

Negotiation progress

The screening process has been completed though no chapters have been opened thus far.

Screening and Chapter Dates
Progression33 / 3333 / 330 / 330 / 33
Acquis chapter [69] Screening StartedScreening CompletedChapter OpenedChapter Closed
1. Free Movement of Goods30 January 20239 March 2023
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers30 January 20239 March 2023
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services17 January 20239 March 2023
4. Free Movement of Capital7 October 20229 March 2023
5. Public Procurement15 September 202216 January 2023
6. Company Law3 February 20239 March 2023
7. Intellectual Property Law17 January 20239 March 2023
8. Competition Policy17 January 20239 March 2023
9. Financial Services7 October 20229 March 2023
10. Information Society & Media27 March 202315 June 2023
11. Agriculture & Rural Development17 July 20231 December 2023
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy17 July 20231 December 2023
13. Fisheries17 July 20231 December 2023
14. Transport Policy15 March 202315 September 2023
15. Energy15 March 202315 September 2023
16. Taxation31 March 202315 June 2023
17. Economic & Monetary Policy13 June 202315 June 2023
18. Statistics19 September 202216 January 2023
19. Social Policy & Employment23 May 202315 June 2023
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy26 May 202315 June 2023
21. Trans-European Networks15 March 202315 September 2023
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments17 July 20231 December 2023
23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights27 September 202216 January 2023
24. Justice, Freedom & Security27 September 202216 January 2023
25. Science & Research28 April 202315 June 2023
26. Education & Culture27 April 202315 June 2023
27. Environment & Climate Change18 March 202315 September 2023
28. Consumer & Health Protection17 February 20239 March 2023
29. Customs Union20 October 202215 June 2023
30. External Relations6 December 20236 December 2023
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy7 December 20237 December 2023
32. Financial Control9 December 202216 January 2023
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions17 July 20231 December 2023
34. InstitutionsN/AN/AN/AN/A
35. Other IssuesN/AN/AN/AN/A


Please note as of 2021, clusters have been implemented to provide better organization and some additional items have been added to align with the new EU methodology.

Clusters Acquis Chapter State of PlayCluster OpenedCluster Closed
OverviewOverview0 out of 330 out of 60 out of 6
Fundamentals23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights
24. Justice, Freedom & Security
Economic criteria
Functioning of democratic institutions
Public administration reform
5. Public Procurement
18. Statistics
32. Financial Control
Internal Market1. Free Movement of Goods
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services
4. Free Movement of Capital
6. Company Law
7. Intellectual Property Law
8. Competition Policy
9. Financial Services
28. Consumer & Health Protection
Competitiveness and inclusive growth10. Information Society & Media
16. Taxation
17. Economic & Monetary Policy
19. Social Policy & Employment
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy
25. Science & Research
26. Education & Culture
29. Customs Union
Green agenda and sustainable connectivity14. Transport Policy
15. Energy
21. Trans-European Networks
27. Environment
Resources, agriculture and cohesion11. Agriculture & Rural Development
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy
13. Fisheries
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions
External relations30. External Relations
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy
34. Institutions
35. Other Issues
Report History
Acquis chapter 2011 [70] 2012 [71] 2013 [72] 2014 [73] 2015 [74] 2016 [75] 2018 [76] 2019 [77] 2020 [78] 2021 [79] 2022 [80] 2023 [81]
1. Free Movement of GoodsModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
2. Freedom of Movement For WorkersEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stage
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide ServicesEarly stageModerately preparedFurther efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
4. Free Movement of CapitalFurther efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
5. Public ProcurementWell preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
6. Company LawConsiderable efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparation
7. Intellectual Property LawFurther efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
8. Competition PolicyModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
9. Financial ServicesFurther efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
10. Information Society & MediaFurther efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedGood level of preparationGood level of preparationModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
11. Agriculture & Rural DevelopmentModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary PolicyGood level of preparationEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageSome level of preparationSome level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparation
13. FisheriesModerately preparedFurther efforts neededFurther efforts neededFurther efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
14. Transport PolicyModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
15. EnergyModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
16. TaxationFurther efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
17. Economic & Monetary PolicyModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedGood level of preparation
18. StatisticsModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
19. Social Policy & EmploymentConsiderable efforts neededConsiderable efforts neededEarly stageModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
20. Enterprise & Industrial PolicySome level of preparationConsiderable efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
21. Trans-European NetworksModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparation
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural InstrumentsModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedSome level of preparationModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
23. Judiciary & Fundamental RightsConsiderable efforts neededFurther efforts neededFurther efforts neededFurther efforts neededSome level of preparationSome level of preparationSome level of preparationModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
24. Justice, Freedom & SecurityFurther efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedFurther efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
25. Science & ResearchConsiderable efforts neededFurther efforts neededModerately preparedModerately preparedGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparation
26. Education & CultureModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
27. EnvironmentConsiderable efforts neededFurther efforts neededFurther efforts neededFurther efforts neededModerately preparedSome level of preparationSome level of preparationSome level of preparationSome level of preparationSome level of preparationSome level of preparationSome level of preparation
28. Consumer & Health ProtectionModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
29. Customs UnionNo major difficulties expectedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparationGood level of preparation
30. External RelationsSome level of preparationModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
31. Foreign, Security & Defence PolicyModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedGood level of preparationGood level of preparation
32. Financial ControlFurther efforts neededEarly stageEarly stageModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately preparedModerately prepared
33. Financial & Budgetary ProvisionsTotally incompatible with acquisEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stageEarly stage
34. InstitutionsNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adopt
35. Other IssuesNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adoptNothing to adopt
Legend:

Chapters in bold indicate completed chapters.

indicates chapters in which the European Commission has simultaneously awarded the chapter both "some level of preparation" AND "moderately prepared" OR both "moderately prepared" AND "good level of preparation".

  totally incompatible  early stage  considerable efforts needed  some level of preparation  further efforts needed  moderately prepared  no major difficulties expected  good level of preparation  well prepared / well advanced

Impact of joining

Member countriesPopulationArea (km2)GDP
(billion US$)
GDP
per capita (US$)
Languages
Flag of North Macedonia.svg North Macedonia 1,836,71325,71312.3836,143 Macedonian
EU27447,007,5964,233,26217,04638,95724
EU27+1448,844,309
(+0.45%)
4,258,975
(+0.61%)
17,277.98
(+0.06%)
38,134
(–0.2%)
25

North Macedonia's foreign relations with EU member states

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of North Macedonia</span> Overview of the foreign relations of North Macedonia

The foreign relations of North Macedonia since its independence in 1991 have been characterized by the country's efforts to gain membership in international organizations such as NATO and the European Union and to gain international recognition under its previous constitutional name, overshadowed by a long-standing, dead-locked dispute with neighboring Greece. Greek objections to the country's name had led to it being admitted to the United Nations and several other international fora only under the provisional designation Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia until its official and erga omnes renaming to North Macedonia, a name under which it is now universally recognised.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enlargement of the European Union</span> Accession process of new countries to the European Union

The European Union (EU) has expanded a number of times throughout its history by way of the accession of new member states to the Union. To join the EU, a state needs to fulfil economic and political conditions called the Copenhagen criteria, which require a stable democratic government that respects the rule of law, and its corresponding freedoms and institutions. According to the Maastricht Treaty, each current member state and the European Parliament must agree to any enlargement. The process of enlargement is sometimes referred to as European integration. This term is also used to refer to the intensification of co-operation between EU member states as national governments allow for the gradual harmonisation of national laws.

A European Union Association Agreement or simply Association Agreement (AA) is a treaty between the European Union (EU), its Member States and a non-EU country that creates a framework for co-operation between them. Areas frequently covered by such agreements include the development of political, trade, social, cultural and security links.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stabilisation and Association Process</span> Part of the process of joining the European Union

In talks with countries that have expressed a wish to join the European Union, the EU typically concludes Association Agreements in exchange for commitments to political, economic, trade, or human rights reform in that country. In exchange, the country may be offered tariff-free access to some or all EU markets, and financial or technical assistance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macedonia naming dispute</span> Dispute between Greece and North Macedonia (1991–2019)

The use of the country name "Macedonia" was disputed between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia between 1991 and 2019. The dispute was a source of instability in the Western Balkans for 25 years. It was resolved through negotiations between the two countries, mediated by the United Nations, resulting in the Prespa Agreement, which was signed on 17 June 2018. Pertinent to its background is an early 20th-century multifaceted dispute and armed conflict that formed part of the background to the Balkan Wars. The specific naming dispute, although an existing issue in Yugoslav–Greek relations since World War II, was reignited after the breakup of Yugoslavia and the newly-gained independence of the former Socialist Republic of Macedonia in 1991. Since then, it was an ongoing issue in bilateral and international relations until it was settled with the Prespa agreement in June 2018, the subsequent ratification by the Macedonian and Greek parliaments in late 2018 and early 2019 respectively, and the official renaming of Macedonia to North Macedonia in February 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accession of Albania to the European Union</span> Ongoing accession process of Albania to the EU

Albania is on the current agenda for future enlargement of the European Union (EU). It applied for EU membership on 28 April 2009, and has since June 2014 been an official candidate for accession. The Council of the European Union decided in March 2020 to open accession negotiations with Albania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union</span> Accession process of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union

The accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union (EU) is the stated aim of the present relations between the two entities. Bosnia and Herzegovina has been recognised by the European Union as a "candidate country" for accession since the decision of the European Council in 2022 and is on the current agenda for future enlargement of the EU. Bosnia and Herzegovina takes part in the Stabilisation and Association Process and trade relations are regulated by an Interim Agreement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accession of Montenegro to the European Union</span> Ongoing accession process of Montenegro to the EU

Accession of Montenegro to the European Union is on the agenda for future enlargement of the EU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accession of Serbia to the European Union</span> Ongoing accession process of Serbia to the EU

Serbia applied to join the European Union (EU) in 2009 and has been a candidate for membership since 2012, along with nine other states. Serbia is the largest country in Southeast Europe seeking entry into the EU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accession of Kosovo to the European Union</span>

The accession of Kosovo to the European Union (EU) is on the current agenda for future enlargement of the EU. Kosovo is currently recognized by the EU as a potential candidate for accession.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potential enlargement of the European Union</span> Potential candidates for admission into the European Union

There are nine recognised candidates for membership of the European Union: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Kosovo formally submitted its application for membership in 2022 and is considered a potential candidate by the European Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Macedonia</span> Country in Southeast Europe

North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the north. It constitutes approximately the northern third of the larger geographical region of Macedonia. Skopje, the capital and largest city, is home to a quarter of the country's 1.83 million people. The majority of the residents are ethnic Macedonians, a South Slavic people. Albanians form a significant minority at around 25%, followed by Turks, Roma, Serbs, Bosniaks, Aromanians and a few other minorities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bosnia and Herzegovina–North Macedonia relations</span> Bilateral relations

The relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia are very good, without any open issues between them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greece–North Macedonia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations exist between Greece and North Macedonia. Greece has an embassy in Skopje, and a Consulate General in Bitola. Similarly, North Macedonia maintains an embassy in Athens, and a consulate-general in Thessaloniki. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe and NATO. Greece is an EU member and North Macedonia is an EU candidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulgaria–North Macedonia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bulgaria–North Macedonia relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe, and NATO. Bulgaria is a member of the European Union. Bulgaria was the first country to recognize the independence of its neighbour in 1992. Both states signed a friendship treaty in 2017. North Macedonia has been attempting to join the EU since 2004, while EU governments officially gave their permissions to enter accession talks in March 2020. Nevertheless, North Macedonia and Bulgaria have complicated neighborly relations, thus the Bulgarian factor is known in Macedonian politics as "B-complex".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoran Zaev</span> Former prime minister of North Macedonia

Zoran Zaev is a Macedonian economist and politician who served as prime minister of North Macedonia from May 2017 to January 2020, and again from August 2020 to January 2022.

The First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalisation of Relations, informally known as the Brussels Agreement, is an agreement to normalize relations between the governments of Serbia and Kosovo. The agreement, negotiated and concluded in Brussels under the auspices of the European Union, was signed on 19 April 2013. Negotiations were led by Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, mediated by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. The government of Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state, but began normalising relations with the government of Kosovo as a result of the agreement. In Belgrade, the agreement was criticized by protestors as a convalidation of Kosovo independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prespa Agreement</span> 2018 settlement of the Macedonia naming dispute

The Prespa Agreement, also known as the Treaty of Prespa, the Prespes deal or the Prespa accord, is an agreement reached in 2018 between Greece and the then-Republic of Macedonia, under the auspices of the United Nations, resolving a long-standing dispute between the two countries. Apart from resolving the terminological differences, the agreement also covers areas of cooperation between the two countries in order to establish a strategic partnership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yugoslavia–European Communities relations</span> Bilateral relations

From the establishment of the European Economic Community in 1957 until the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, thus during the Cold War period, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the first socialist state to develop relations with the organisation. Notwithstanding occasional and informal proposals coming from both sides, Yugoslavia never became a full member state of the EEC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 North Macedonia protests</span>

In early July 2022, protests began in Skopje, North Macedonia. The protests were triggered by Bulgaria–North Macedonia negotiations surrounding the accession of the latter into the European Union.

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