The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

The country was the first Western Balkan nation to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, which entered into force in April 2004.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was granted candidate country status for EU membership in December 2005. In February 2008, the EU adopted the Accession Partnership for the country, which updated the previous European Partnership agreement of January 2006. Citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were granted visa-free travel to the Schengen area in December 2009.

In June 2018, Macedonia and Greece resolved the conflict with an agreement that the country should rename itself Republic of North Macedonia. This renaming came into effect in February 2019.

EU - North Macedonia (2019-2020)

North Macedonia submitted its membership application in 2004 and became a candidate for accession to the EU in 2005. The Council decided to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on 25 March 2020, following the Commission's proposals on a revised enlargement methodology.

North Macedonia is currently on its way to becoming the 30th member of NATO and hopes for a swift ratification of the NATO Accession Protocol by all partners; it reiterates its belief in the positive impact that the accession of North Macedonia to NATO will have for peace and stability in the region; underlines that the accession of North Macedonia to NATO is an encouraging sign of improved climate in the region.

EU - North Macedonia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Afrim GASHI, Speaker of the Parliament of North Macedonia

Delegation to the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee Constitutive meeting

22nd  EU-North Macedonia joint Parliamentary Committee

2nd European Political Community Summit in Chisinau, Moldova - Meeting with Dimitar KOVACHEVSKI, Prime Minister of North Macedonia

AFET - Exchange of views with Bujar OSMANI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia

20th EU - North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee

EP Plenary session - 2021 Report on North Macedonia

Ilhan KYUCHYUK meets with Bujar OSMANI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia

AFET Committee - Exchange of views with Bujar OSMANI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Dimitar KOVACHEVSKI, Prime Minister of North Macedonia

EP Plenary session - Instrument for pre-accession assistance

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit 28 June - Group photo

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit 28 June

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit - AFET Committee in association with the EP Standing delegations for the Western Balkans, with the Speakers of the Western Balkans parliaments

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of North Macedonia.

David SASSOLI, EP President welcomes Zoran ZAEV, North Macedonian Prime Minister

Live replay of the Formal sitting: Adress by Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - Introductory statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

Formal sitting: Adress by Zoran ZAEV, FYROM Prime Minister - Introductory statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President (11:47 - 11:51)

Visit of Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Arrival, welcome by Antonio TAJANI , EP President, and round table.

Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: arrival and round table

During the plenary session of the European Parliament (10-13/09/2018) in Strasbourg, Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, addresses to MEPs.

Address by Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: extracts from the speech

During the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), MEPs exchange views with Nikola DIMITROV, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Statements by Nikola DIMITROV, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK) and Ivo VAJGL (ALDE, SI).

Exchange of views with Nikola DIMITROV, Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: extracts from the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

At his arrival to the EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press about Mark ZUCKERBERG's coming to the EP and about the relations with the Western Balkan.

EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria: arrival of Antonio TAJANI, EP President and statement

Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press on the occasion of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria

EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria: extracts from the press conference by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press about the EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Press conference by Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria

EPP leaders meet ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia. Arrival of Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Johannes HAHN, Donald TUSK, Viktor ORBÁN, Silvio BERLUSCONI, Leo VARADKAR, and statement by Antonio TAJANI.

EPP Western Balkans Summit: arrivals and statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

Family photo with Boyko BORISSOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister, and Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on the occasion of the EPP Western Balkans Summit in Sofia, Burlgaria

EPP Western Balkans Summit: family photo

On the occasion of the EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with Sebastian KURZ, Chancellor of Austria and with Boyko BORISSOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria

EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria: Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with Sebastian KURZ, Chancellor of Austria and with Boyko BORISSOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria

This stockshot provides examples of EU-financed projects under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), filmed in 2015, in The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Infoclip: The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - EU-financed projects

This infoclip shows illustrative images of the capital and countryside of the Western Balkans country, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Produced by the Audiovisual Service of the European Commission.

Infoclip: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Visit of an EP Delegation to Greece. Visit of the&nbsp;Northern border area of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and statements by&nbsp;Peter NIEDERMULLER (S&amp;D, HU), Head of Delegation.

EP Delegation to Greece - Northern border of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: visit of the border area

Vote&nbsp;of a resolution on the&nbsp;2015 Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia during the EP Plenary session (7-10 March) in Strasbourg.
As a result, the resolution was adopted.
509 voted; 404 in favor; 76 against; 29 abstentions.

2015 Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: extracts from the vote

Debate on the 2015 Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, during the EP Plenary session (7-10 March) in Strasbourg. Statements by Jeanine HENNIS-PLASSCHAERT, Dutch Minister of Defence, Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Ivo VAJGL (ALDE, SI), Tunne KELAM (EPP, EE), Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK) and Tamas MESZERICS (Greens/EFA, HU)

2015 Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: extracts from the debate

Debate on the situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Statements by Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid, Eduard KUKAN (EPP, SK), Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK),&nbsp; Angel DZHAMBAZKI (ECR, BG),&nbsp; Ivo VAJGL (ALDE, SI) and Sofia SAKORAFA (GUE/NGL, EL)

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