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

Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT), EP Standing Rapporteur for Albania, and Ilhan KYUCHYUK (Renew Europe, BG), EP Standing Rapporteur for North Macedonia, give a press conference after they presented their reports in a debate during the plenary session. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Press conference by Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT), EP Standing Rapporteur for Albania, and Ilhan KYUCHYUK (Renew Europe, BG), EP Standing Rapporteur for North Macedonia

During the plenary session (24-25 March 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on 2019-2020 progress reports on Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia. Closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs.

Joint debate - 2019-2020 Progress reports on Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Oliver SPASOVSKI, Prime Minister of North Macedonia, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Arrival welcome by David SASSOLI, EP President, and roundtable.

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Oliver SPASOVSKI, Prime Minister of North Macedonia: arrival and roundtable

Speakers of the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia as well as the president of Croatia’s Parliament gather to discuss the Western Balkans’ European perspectives, in the European Parliament in Brussels. The summit is organised under the patronage of David SASSOLI, Ep President, in cooperation with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Delegation for relations with the Western Balkans. Statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

Parliamentary Summit with the Western Balkans: arrivals, roundtable and statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

The EP Conference of President meets to discuss on the Parliamentary Summit with the Western Balkans. Speakers of the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia as well as the president of Croatia’s Parliament gather to discuss the Western Balkans’ European perspectives, in the European Parliament in Brussels. The summit is organised under the patronage of David SASSOLI, Ep President, in cooperation with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Delegation for relations with the Western Balkans.

Extraordinary Conference of Presidents on the Parliamentary Summit with the Western Balkans: arrivals and roundtable

During his official visit to Skopje, North Macedonia, David SASSOLI, EP President gives a the press statement.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President, to Skopje, North Macedonia: extracts from the press statement

David SASSOLI, EP President solemn address to the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia - Solemn address to Parliament

On the occasion of his official visit to Skopje, North Macedonia, David SASSOLI, EP President, makes a press statement

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President, to Skopje, North Macedonia: press statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

During his official visit to Skopje, North Macedonia, David SASSOLI, EP President addresses the Parliament.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President, to Skopje, North Macedonia: extracts from the address to Parliament by David SASSOLI, EP President

During his official visit to Skopje, North Macedonia, David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Talat XHAFERI, President of the Assembly of North Macedonia and leaders of parliamentary political parties.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President, to Skopje, North Macedonia: extracts from the meeting with Talat XHAFERI, Speaker of the Assembly of North Macedonia (Sobranie) and with leaders of parliamentary political parties

During his official visit to Skopje, North Macedonia, David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of North Macedonia. They make a statement after their meeting.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President, to Skopje, North Macedonia: extracts from the meeting with Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of North Macedonia and the joint statement

During his official visit to Skopje, North Macedonia, David SASSOLI, EP President visits the Europe House, meets with students and makes a statement.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President, to Skopje, North Macedonia: extracts from the opening of Europe House with students

During his official visit to Skopje, North Macedonia, David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Stevo PENDAROVSKI, President of the Republic of North Macedonia.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Skopje, North Macedonia: extracts from the meeting with Stevo PENDAROVSKI, President of the Republic of North Macedonia

Visit of Talat XHAFERI, President of the Assembly of North Macedonia, to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Arrival and meeting with David SASSOLI, EP President, in the framework of the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia.

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Talat XHAFERI, President of the Assembly of North Macedonia: arrival and roundtable

During the plenary session (21-24/10/2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with Council and Commission on whether to open accession talks with the two Western Balkan countries. Parliament has, in previous resolutions, expressed its strong support to start negotiations with both countries. Statements by Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Andrey KOVATCHEV (EPP, BG) and Kati PIRI (S&D, NL).

Opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session (21-24/10/2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate take stock of the outcome of the 17-18 October meeting of EU heads of state or government in a debate with Donald TUSK, President of the Council, and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC. The summit focussed on Brexit, negotiations for a long-term EU budget, strategic priorities for the next five years, climate change, enlargement and foreign affairs. Statements by Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES) and Dacian CIOLOŞ (RE, RO) on Turkey’s unilateral military action in North East Syria, on enlargement negociations with North Macedonia and Albania, on multiannual financial framework and on UE being climate neutral by 2050.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 October 2019: extracts from the debate on other topics

David SASSOLI, EP President welcome Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia. Arrival and signature of the Golden Book.

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia: arrival and roundtable

Live replay of the Formal sitting: Adress by Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

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