Facts: In the EU waiting room
Two countries are currently negotiating EU membership: Montenegro (since 2012) and Serbia (since 2014). Negotiations have also begun with Turkey (2005) but have since been frozen due to criticism of the democratic development in the country.
Another four countries have formal status as candidate countries: For Northern Macedonia (since 2005) and Albania (since 2014), negotiations have been promised, but have not yet been finally granted. Ukraine and Moldova received candidate status at the end of June.
Two more countries have also applied for membership: Bosnia and Herzegovina (2016) and Georgia (2022). Both are still waiting for a decision on candidate status, but have received promises to get there as soon as certain conditions are met.
Kosovo, in turn, is considered a “potential candidate”, but has so far not applied – nor has it been recognized as an independent country by all the current 27 EU countries.
Of the 120 members of Parliament, 68 voted in favor of the proposal, which allows for Northern Macedonia to finally open negotiations on EU membership.
EU President Ursula von der Leyen, who is herself in Skopje, congratulated the country on the vote.
“It was a historic opportunity. And you took it. A big step on your way to a European future. Your future,” von der Leyen wrote on Twitter.
The deal was presented by French President Emmanuel Macron last month. It is based, among other things, on the fact that Northern Macedonia in the country’s constitution recognizes a Bulgarian minority and provides protection for the rights of minorities. The demand comes from Bulgaria, which has long said no to the start of negotiations due to a conflict over language and history – but has now opened to lift the veto.
Both the EU, led by France and Germany, and the United States have pushed for a solution between the countries, which has also meant that Albania has had to wait.
But despite Saturday’s yes, the last word has not been said. In the end, writing about the North Macedonian constitution requires two-thirds of the parliament to vote in favor, something which the largest opposition party, the VMRO-DPMNE, and its coalition parties have emphatically declared they will never agree to.
And although membership negotiations with the EU can begin, it is still expected to take many years before Northern Macedonia or Albania can be considered ready for membership. For example, neighboring Montenegro and Serbia are still at least five years away from membership, despite having negotiated since 2012 and 2014 respectively.