Name deal gaining ground in FYROM, opinion poll shows

More than half of the residents of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) agree that the Balkan nation should join NATO and the European Union under the name "Republic of North Macedonia" as part of the deal signed with Greece in June, a recent poll has shown.

In the poll conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI), 57 percent of respondents said they fully or partially agree with their country using that name to join the two organizations, while 38 percent said they don't. Overall, 83 percent said they were in favor of FYROM joining the EU while 77 percent said they want it to become a member of NATO.

As part of the deal signed on the shores of Lake Prespes by Greek and FYROM officials, Skopje will change its name to North Macedonia and, in return, Athens will lift its objections to the country becoming a member of the EU and NATO.