About: EU-Macedonia relations
North Macedonia minister: NATO, not EU, saved name change deal
Without the prospect of joining NATO, the North Macedonia name change deal with Greece (Prespa Agreement) would have been dead because the EU side has not been delivering on its promises, North Macedonian deputy PM and defence minister, Radmila Šekerinska, has said.
Symbolically, Greece to be first to open NATO doors for North Macedonia
In a symbolic gesture, the Greek government will most probably be the first country to ratify North Macedonia’s NATO accession protocol, as it aims to do it by 8 February, sources close to the issue told EURACTIV.com.
Greek Commissioner breaks with EU line on North Macedonia name deal
Dimitris Avramopoulos, the EU's migration Commissioner, made a statement on 23 January opposing the historic name change deal between Athens and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the so-called Prespa Agreement, due to be ratified this week in the Greek parliament.
Tsipras kills three birds with one stone with North Macedonia deal
With the North Macedonia name change deal recently reached between Athens and Skopje, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has achieved more than improving his international image, by putting pressure on his domestic opponents, writes Nikolaos Koutsimpogiorgos.
Tsipras goes against all in Greek parliament on North Macedonia name deal
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is likely to survive a confidence vote on Wednesday (16 January). But his party Syriza is alone defending the historic name change deal reached between Athens and Skopje.
‘North Macedonia’ deal shakes Greek government, Tsipras calls vote of confidence
Skopje's ratification of the so-called name-change deal has triggered a government crisis in Greece, when the leader of the conservative junior coalition partner, Independent Greeks, stepped down on Sunday (13 January).
EPP’s Weber comes out on Macedonia name change deal
Manfred Weber, the Spitzenkandidat of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), ended months of silence on the ongoing efforts to resolve the Greece-Macedonia name row with a couple of pithy comments on Tuesday (9 January) that appear to support the deal.
Macedonia’s Zaev sees ‘existential dangers’ outside of Euro-Atlantic institutions
The name-change deal reached between Athens and Skopje does not turn against any other country, including Russia, and its only objective is to establish peace and stability, the prime minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Zoran Zaev, said on Friday (4 January).
Weber attacks ‘populist’ Tsipras, remains silent over Macedonia name deal
Victory by Greece’s right-wing New Democracy party over Alexis Tsipras' Syriza in the next elections would show that the rise of populists in Europe is not irreversible, European People’s Party (EPP) Spitzenkandidat Manfred Weber has said.
Mitsotakis calls on Greek parties to reject Macedonia name change deal
The leader of the main Greek opposition party, New Democracy (EPP), called on Wednesday (5 December) on Greek political parties to block the name change deal recently reached between Athens and Skopje after almost thirty years of dispute.
EPP’s Weber under pressure to break his silence over Macedonia name deal
Manfred Weber, the European People’s Party (EPP) Spitzenkandidat for the EU elections, has been silent over the name change deal reached this year between Athens and Skopje. The deal has been generally endorsed by the EPP but rejected by some of its members, including those from the two countries involved.
Athens and Skopje break ‘air embargo’ after 15 years
The first direct flight from Skopje to Athens took place on Thursday (1 November) after a 15-year “air embargo” in a sign that the two countries are determined to turn a new page in Balkan politics, after being locked in a diplomatic dispute over Skopje's official name.
Macedonian parliament approves country’s name change
The Macedonian parliament approved on Friday (19 October) a proposal to change the country's name, bringing a decades-old dispute with Greece one step closer to being resolved.
Mogherini: FYROM name change deal will transform entire South-East Europe
The recently reached "historic" name deal between Athens and Skopje will have a wider positive impact and a spill-over effect in entire South-East Europe, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said.
EU responds to FYROM president, insists on not importing disputes during enlargement
Experience garnered during previous enlargements has taught the EU a lesson: the bloc should not import existing disputes when granting membership, an EU spokesperson told EURACTIV.com after FYROM President Gjorge Ivanov accused Brussels of “double standards”.
Controversy in Greece: did New Democracy have secret contacts with Zaev?
A big controversy is ongoing in Greece following reports that the country’s largest opposition force, New Democracy, which strongly opposes the name deal with Skopje, has had secretive contacts with the Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Zoran Zaev.
Stoltenberg on Macedonia: NATO’s door is open, but…
Macedonia can only join NATO if it implements the name deal with Greece, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Tuesday (2 October), putting fresh pressure on Skopje to ratify the agreement despite protests from opposition parties.
Greek MP: Zaev is granted ‘crucial’ political benefit after the referendum
The result of Sunday's referendum in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on whether to accept a name deal with Greece provided a "crucial political benefit" for its prime minister despite a low voter turnout, Nikos Xydakis, an influential parliamentary representative in the Greek house, told EURACTIV.com.
EU and NATO hail Macedonia’s referendum result despite low turnout
Macedonian voters backed a plan to rename the country aimed at ending a decades-long spat with Greece and unlocking a path to NATO and EU membership, with the West welcoming the result although the referendum was marred by low turnout.
Macedonia’s Zaev highlights economic benefits ahead of name change referendum
Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Zoran Zaev focused on the economic benefits of a “yes” vote in the upcoming referendum on the Macedonia name change, saying that the trade with Greece is going to double.
EU socialists scold EPP over Macedonian name deal, disregard own black sheep member
The Socialists and Democrats group (S&D) continue to criticise the negative stance of center-right opposition parties in Athens and Skopje towards the landmark name deal but also turn a blind eye to their member party in Greece, which disapproves of it.
Macedonia to hold referendum on name change on 30 September
Macedonia's parliament yesterday (30 July) set 30 September as the date for a referendum on changing the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia, a high-stakes vote aimed at resolving a long-running row with Greece and clearing the path to join NATO and the EU.
Family history explains New Democracy opposition to Athens-Skopje name deal, says EPP’s Brok
European People's Party MEP Elmar Brok has a “great understanding” of Greece’s New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who faces internal party problems and opposes the freshly agreed deal between Athens and Skopje on the name dispute. However, Brok told EURACTIV he hopes for a positive result in the end.