Latest News from Macedonia

FMs of Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic express support to N Macedonia’s EU path

Skopje – Foreign minister of Slovenia, Austria and the Czech Republic, Anže Logar, Alexander Schallenberg and Jakub Kulhanek, expressed support to North Macedonia’s EU path at a working visit to the country on Saturday. Macedonian FM Bujar Osmani thanked for their support and called for EU accession talks to start as soon as possible.

North Macedonia Has Fulfilled All Conditions for Opening EU Accession Talks - President Zoran Milanovic

North Macedonia has fulfilled all the democratic conditions to open EU accession talks, but it is constantly being "kicked" around, said President Zoran Milanovic on Thursday after Sofia criticised his statements about Bulgaria's policy on that EU membership aspirant.

Bulgarian-Croatian Relations Sour over North Macedonia

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has summoned Croatian ambassador to Sofia, Jasna Ognjanovac, for talks after harsh criticism directed at Sofia's foreign policy by Croatian President Zoran Milanović.

EU Lack of Resolve Fuels Euroscepticism in Western Balkans – North Macedonia’s Premier

North Macedonia's prime minister, Zoran Zaev, has warned the EU that it's taken a reputational hit in the Balkans and will lose more ground to rival powers if it doesn't start membership talks with his country and Albania soon.

North Macedonia Expels Russian Diplomat

North Macedonia has declared a diplomat from the Russian embassy in Skopje persona non grata, official sources confirmed for news site MKD.mk.

Bulgarian Stand on North Macedonia’s EU Accession Remains Unwavering – Caretaker Foreign Minister

Bulgaria has said it will not change its opposition to North Macedonia's accession to the EU following a meeting between Bulgaria's new caretaker Foreign Minister Svetlan Stoev and Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform Ekaterina Zaharieva.

Bulgaria is blocking Skopje due to historical and linguistic disputes. It is under growing pressure to change its stance.

Talk of Separating Balkan EU Aspirants Sows Confusion, Suspicion

While EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell "practically corrected Varhelyi," said Malinka Ristovska of the European Policy Institute, EPI, a Skopje-based think tank, he offered nothing new on how the bloc proposed to get around Bulgaria's continuing veto threat.

Bulgaria’s Caretaker Govt to Maintain North Macedonia Blockade

Bulgaria's caretaker government led by Stefan Janev will not change Sofia's stance on blocking the start of EU negotiation for North Macedonia in a dispute over history, language and identity.

The news further diminishes the chances of a speedy breakthrough in bilateral talks before June, when the EU has pencilled in the official start of talks.

Lack of Media Freedom in the Balkans Erodes European Values

The decline in media freedom in the Balkans is eroding the European values of democracy and rule of law and creating a climate ripe for disinformation that is cultivating anti-EU and anti-Western sentiment across the region, writes Peter Horrocks.

Bulgaria Tries to Explain Its Veto on North Macedonia EU Accession under EU Pressure

Facing pressure from EU members, the Bulgarian ambassador to the EU explained on Tuesday (11 May) to the EU ministers his country's decision to veto the start of neighbouring North Macedonia's accession negotiations.

Decoupling Albania and North Macedonia in EU Accession Talks Is Bad Idea - Austrian Foreign Minister

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi's proposal to press ahead with accession talks with Albania but exclude North Macedonia for now has sparked criticism in Austria, with Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg calling the move "absurd." Read more.

North Macedonia PM Zoran Zaev on Official Visit to Brussels to Discuss EU Accession Process

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev will meet today at EU Headquarters in Brussels with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President David Sassoli, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, EC Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans and with EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Oliver Varhei.