In July 2022, North Macedonia held its first intergovernmental conference, marking the official start of EU negotiations, 17 years after the country had received candidate status. An acrimonious name dispute with Greece played a significant role in keeping North Macedonia in limbo on the EU track for more than a decade. Additionally, a dispute with Bulgaria over historical and identity issues stalled the process, with negative spillover effects on the credibility of the EU in the country. The opening of the fundamentals’ cluster in the negotiations with the Union is currently conditioned by the adoption of constitutional changes. North Macedonia has been seeking more predictability in this process. The country has fully aligned with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and has submitted the reform agenda for the Growth Plan. However, its progress towards EU membership continues to be obstructed by member states’ instrumentalisation of the accession process.
This in-person Policy Briefing with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia, Timcho Mucunski, will discuss the state of play and prospects of North Macedonia’s European integration path. It will also shine light on the country’s expectations from the EU in the enlargement dossier at this critical geopolitical juncture.
Participation is open to EPC members only, the media and EU officials.