About: Zoran Zaev
France halts EU enlargement
France blocked the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia on Tuesday (15 October), despite the promise made by the EU to Skopje that its historic name deal with Greece, the Prespa agreement, would earn it a ticket to EU membership negotiations.
Three countries agree mini Schengen in the Balkans
Three Western Balkan EU hopefuls, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, have decided to advance regional cooperation by forming the so-called "mini-Schengen" in order to improve life and the economy in the region until the EU opens its doors to them.
North Macedonia president: We need date for EU talks before autumn
Decoupling North Macedonia and Albania’s EU path, by giving the green light to the former and holding the start of accession talks for the latter is not great, but is the only way forward, North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview during his visit to Brussels on Thursday (13 June).
North Macedonia’s pro-Western candidate wins presidential vote
North Macedonia's pro-Western candidate, Stevo Pendarovski, won a run-off presidential vote after a campaign dominated by divisions over a change to the country's name that was agreed to mollify Greece and open the way for EU and NATO membership.
Presidential poll threatens crisis for pro-West North Macedonia government
North Macedonia goes to the polls on Sunday (5 May) in a presidential run-off vote that will be a litmus test for the pro-Western government, which has warned low turnout could invalidate the vote and trigger a general election.
North Macedonia candidates tied in first round of presidential vote
North Macedonia's pro-Western candidate, Stevo Pendarovski, and his main nationalist rival Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova emerged tied in the first round of a presidential vote on Sunfay (21 April) dominated by deep divisions over a change of the country's name under a deal with Greece.
North Macedonia presidential vote imperils Prespa agreement gains
North Macedonia holds the first round of its presidential election on Sunday (21 April), the country's first vote under a new name as it struggles with enduring economic problems, cronyism and corruption.
Greece will police North Macedonia’s airspace following historic visit
Greece and North Macedonia signed a number of crucial agreements to enhance their economic and military collaboration following a historic visit of Greek premier Alexis Tsipras to Skopje.
Tsipras pays historic visit to North Macedonia
Greece's prime minister will on Tuesday (2 April) pay a historic visit to newly renamed North Macedonia to join in marking the end of a decades-long identity row between the two countries.
Macedonia pledges more reforms to secure EU accession talks
Macedonia's prime minister said Wednesday (30 January) that in addition to changing his country's name, his government was ready to enact further reforms to speed up the start of EU accession talks.
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.
Pressure builds in Macedonia ahead of name change votes in Parliament
Macedonian lawmakers gather from Wednesday (9 January) to vote on changing their country's name to settle a decades-long dispute with Greece and open the way to NATO and EU membership.
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).
Bulgarian deputy PM raises obstacles for Macedonia’s EU, NATO accession
Bulgarian deputy Prime Minister Krassimir Karakachanov stated on Saturday (8 December) that he would not let Macedonia join the EU and NATO, reacting to recent statements by the Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev about the Macedonian language that have also infuriated Athens.
Macedonia moves closer towards name change
Macedonia's lawmakers moved closer on Sunday (2 December) to rename the country and remove a key hurdle on the road to breaking a decades-long stalemate with Greece.
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.
Macedonia parliament to vote on name change deal with Greece
Macedonia's parliament will vote Monday (15 October) on whether to ratify a deal to change the country's name, in a bid to finally settle one of Europe's longest running disputes.
After ‘failing a referendum’, who gets to use the name ‘Macedonia’?
Following the recent setback in the referendum held in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev’s decision to proceed with new elections might be the only way forward, writes Neophytos Loizides.
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.
Tsipras and Zaev reportedly in the running for Nobel Peace Prize
The prime ministers of Greece and Macedonia, Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev, are among the favourites to become nominees for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, according to a Swedish journalist specialised in covering the secretive decision-making of the Nobel committee.
Moscow slams Macedonia’s ‘forced’ name change vote
Moscow on Monday (1 October) said low turnout in the referendum on Macedonia's name change renders it invalid, adding that lack of interest means that the population has boycotted a decision "forced" upon it.
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 to accept referendum as valid even with low turnout
Two days before a crucial referendum that could open the doors of Macedonia to NATO and EU membership, an official from Skopje speaking in Brussels on Friday (28 September) made it clear that the authorities will declare the result as legitimate even in case of a low turnout.