EU Expansion Amid Ukraine Crisis
North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia) on the Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe is set to begin formal accession negotiations with the European Union (EU) 17 years after obtaining candidate status.
According to AFP and other foreign media on the 17th (local time), Dimitar Kovachevski, Prime Minister of North Macedonia, said at a press conference the previous day that the first meeting for formal accession negotiations between the North Macedonian government and the EU is scheduled for the 19th.
North Macedonia was granted EU candidate status in 2005, but formal accession negotiations had stalled due to opposition from existing member states such as Greece and Bulgaria.
Although Bulgaria, which shares an eastern border with North Macedonia, has religious, historical, and linguistic similarities, relations have been strained due to territorial disputes and conflicts over minority groups.
However, the situation changed after the North Macedonian parliament passed a kind of mediation proposal that includes measures to improve relations with Bulgaria to advance the country's EU accession negotiations.
The mediation proposal, suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron, mainly involves North Macedonia recognizing Bulgarians in Macedonia as a minority group and reflecting this in its constitution.
Major countries including France have stepped in to mediate because, following the war in Ukraine, there is a growing sentiment that the EU must expand its influence to counter the growing influence of Russia and China.
Prime Minister Kovachevski initially opposed the French mediation proposal but later reversed his stance and put it to a vote despite opposition from the opposition party. This is interpreted as a decision influenced by the unstable situation and the urgency to accelerate EU accession.
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