North Macedonia: Skopje accepts compromise enabling EU accession negotiations

The process is moving forward. This Saturday, the government of North Macedonia announced that it had accepted the compromise that allows the opening of negotiations for accession to the European Union, welcoming a “historic step” for the country after 17 years of waiting.

This compromise, drawn up under the French presidency of the EU that has just ended, was intended to resolve the historic dispute with Bulgaria that was blocking the opening of these negotiations.

Thanks to this “historic step”, “as of today we will advance towards the EU in an accelerated way”, he added.

Unanimous decision

Previously, the Parliament of North Macedonia adopted a negotiating framework aimed at protecting the language and identity of Macedonians. At the end of the vote, the deputies displayed a flag of North Macedonia and a flag of the European Union in the parliament hall.

Skopje’s decision was also hailed by Brussels, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell.

It is “a crucial step for North Macedonia (…) that paves the way for an intergovernmental meeting next week,” European Council President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter.