About: FYRO Macedonia
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.
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.
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.
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.
Poll: Majority of Macedonians support new name deal with Greece
More than 40% of people in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) support the name deal reached between their government and Athens, according to a poll.
US-Russia tensions escalate over Greece, Macedonia name deal
The Kremlin accused Washington on Friday (13 July) of being behind the Greek government’s decision to expel two Russian diplomats who had allegedly tried to derail a deal resolving Greece's name dispute with neighbouring Macedonia.
Greek FM: Europe must keep its word to North Macedonia and Albania
EXCLUSIVE / EU capitals should keep their word and open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania at the 28-29 June summit, Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias told EURACTIV.com in a wide-ranging interview.
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.
Macedonia expects more resistance as name solution nears – minister
Macedonia's deputy prime minister expects growing "external resistance" as negotiations on the name dispute with Greece get closer to a final deal which would unblock the country's NATO and EU membership bid.
Skopje opposition’s stance takes centre stage in Tsipras-Zaev talks
Athens and Skopje have moved closer to resolving their long-running name dispute but are not yet in a position to talk about an agreement, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Thursday (17 May).
EU socialists urge Tsipras and Zaev to show ‘leadership’ to curb nationalism
The President of the Party of European Socialists (PES), Sergei Stanishev, praised on Wednesday (16 May) the efforts by Athens and Skopje to resolve the long-standing name dispute and urged them to show “leadership” against nationalistic trends.
Bulgaria’s EU Presidency sees an ‘opportunity’ in Sofia on Macedonian name dispute
Bulgaria’s EU Presidency sees “an opportunity” in the long-standing name dispute between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) at a crucial meeting due in Sofia this week.
Athens calls on Hahn to stop ‘undermining’ Macedonian name dispute talks
European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn said on Tuesday (24 April) that Greece’s name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) could be resolved in the next 15 days.
Elmar Brok: Macron wants to ‘weaken’ the European Parliament
EXCLUSIVE / French President Emmanuel Macron wants to “weaken” the European Parliament with his opposition to the Spitzenkandidaten process, European People’s Party influential MEP Elmar Brok warned in an interview with EURACTIV.com. Brok, who is a close ally of Chancellor...
Athens and Skopje move closer to resolving eternal name row
Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) are moving closer to resolving a 25-year-old name dispute, which should pave the way for Skopje to join NATO this year and possibly remove a major obstacle for its EU integration.
Greek FM visits Skopje to build trust for ‘substantial’ talks on name dispute
Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias will meet on Thursday (31 August) with politicians in Skopje in order to build up further trust between the two countries. But it’s still “early” for a discussion about the name dispute, diplomatic sources told EURACTIV.com.
Athens-Skopje name dispute hits sporting world
The Greek ministry of foreign affairs said on Thursday (3 August) that Macedonia violated a 1995 interim agreement after they started playing a handball match wearing jerseys with the name 'Macedonia' printed on them.
Greek FM: EU should be louder against Turkish ‘intervention rights’ in member states
EXCLUSIVE / In a wide-ranging interview, Greece's foreign minister on Sunday (16 July) outlined his country's position on the failed Cyprus reunification talks, scolding UN envoy Espen Barth Eide and rejecting "interventions rights" for Turkey in any future settlement. He also warned against expecting any breakthrough with FYROM.
Balkan candidates hope to reinvigorate EU bids with new strategy
Enlargement has fallen off the EU’s list of priorities and the Union is more than likely to shrink before it grows again. But the Western Balkans are still aspiring EU members and a new strategy has been developed that hopes to put them back on Brussels’ immediate agenda.
Young Europeans continue to find it difficult to fly the nest
New statistics highlight how serious Europe’s economic malaise is still affecting young people, as significant numbers of 18-35 year-olds continue to live with their parents.