On July 9, the European Parliament convened to discuss North Macedonia’s progress regarding its accession to the European Union. The members encouraged the nation to persist in its efforts on the EU path, notwithstanding the prevailing political challenges and public discontent. A report was adopted, garnering 461 votes in favour, 121 against, and 107 abstentions. This report emphasises that EU enlargement should be a merit-based process aligned with the Copenhagen Criteria. It calls on North Macedonia to enact the necessary reforms to advance its candidacy.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) expressed their support for the new €750 million Reform and Growth Facility, commending North Macedonia’s ambitious reform agenda. They urged the country to maintain a strong emphasis on reform implementation, particularly in areas such as public administration, governance, the rule of law, and anti-corruption measures. MEPs specifically noted the concerning trends of high-level corruption and declining public trust in the judiciary, advocating for enhanced judicial independence, greater accountability, and the provision of adequate resources for oversight bodies.
Additionally, the Parliament expressed deep concerns regarding the heightened vulnerability of North Macedonia and other EU accession countries in the Western Balkans to foreign interference and disinformation campaigns. The involvement of the Hungarian and Serbian governments in promoting the geopolitical interests of China and Russia was highlighted as particularly alarming.
Rapporteur Thomas Waitz (The Greens, Austria) noted that North Macedonia has positioned itself as a leader in the region, demonstrating a genuine commitment to EU values through significant reforms, including a historic name change. However, he remarked that its accession process has faced unjust delays due to bilateral disputes, which have exacerbated public frustration and disillusionment with the European Union.
“I call on all political parties in North Macedonia to engage in constructive dialogue to reach the required consensus, which would strengthen the country’s multi-ethnic character and accelerate EU progress,” the rapporteur added.
