- BIST10011,117-0.92%
- USD49.63+0.05%
- EUR55.70+0.05%
- GOLD4,012.50-1.18%
- INTEREST36.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,210-0.13%
- October 23, 202616°
- BIST10011,117-0.92%
- USD49.63+0.05%
- EUR55.70+0.05%
- GOLD4,012.50-1.18%
- INTEREST36.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,210-0.13%
- October 23, 202616°
North Macedonia joined NATO and began EU accession negotiations
In the independence referendum held in North Macedonia on September 8, 1991, 95.3 percent of participants voted for independence. The country joined NATO in 2020 and began accession negotiations with the European Union on July 19, 2022.
North Macedonia, which declared independence after the breakup of Yugoslavia, made membership in the European Union and NATO among its strategic goals. After resolving its name dispute through the Prespa Agreement, the country joined NATO in 2020; accession negotiations with the European Union began on July 19, 2022.
95.3 percent voted for independence in referendum
North Macedonia held its independence referendum on September 8, 1991. Some 95.3 percent of those who participated voted in favor of independence.
Many countries, led by Türkiye, recognized the independence of the country then known as Macedonia. Kiro Gligorov became the country’s first president.
Macedonia introduced its own currency on April 26, 1992. The army was also established in August of the same year.
UN membership secured under provisional reference name
Macedonia was admitted to the United Nations unanimously in a vote held in the UN General Assembly on April 8, 1993. Because of Greece’s objection, the country joined the UN under the provisional reference name “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.”
Prespa Agreement resolved the name dispute
Negotiations continued for years to resolve the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece. Following talks mediated by the United Nations, the two countries signed the Prespa Agreement in June 2018.
The agreement provided for changing the country’s name to “North Macedonia” and establishing a strategic partnership between the two countries. In a referendum held in September 2018, 91.46 percent of participants voted to approve the agreement and continue the goal of membership in the European Union and NATO.
Turnout in the referendum, which was boycotted by the opposition at the time, stood at 36.91 percent. Following the name change, North Macedonia joined NATO in 2020.
EU negotiations depend on constitutional amendments
North Macedonia obtained EU candidate-country status in 2005. The first intergovernmental conference for accession negotiations with the European Union was held on July 19, 2022.
The opening of negotiation chapters is expected to begin after the constitutional amendments stemming from the bilateral protocol signed with Bulgaria are adopted. Under the amendments, Bulgarians must be included among the communities listed in the Constitution of North Macedonia.
The Assembly of North Macedonia consists of 120 seats. A two-thirds majority, or the support of 80 lawmakers, is required for a constitutional amendment.
The planned amendment would add the Bulgarian, Croatian, Montenegrin, Slovenian, Jewish and Egyptian communities to the constitutional wording “citizens of North Macedonia; Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Serbs, Roma and Bosniaks.”
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