MKD
Stories (5)
North Macedonia in 2026
North Macedonia in 2026 is shaped by VMRO-DPMNE’s dominant hold on government and local power, with no national elections scheduled this year. The ruling coalition has strengthened its control at both national and municipal levels, giving the Mickoski-led government an unusually wide latitude to set the political agenda. However, this dominance risks entrenching political imbalance with the opposition SDSM, potentially weakening traditional checks and balances. The broader qu
2026-05-24FA Minister
North Macedonia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Bujar Osmani marked his two-year tenure by emphasizing a dynamic, high-stakes period in foreign policy across global, European, regional, and domestic arenas. Key points: - Five mandate priorities: good neighborly relations, EU integration, USA partnership, multilateral proactivity, and economic diplomacy. - Bulgaria relationship: described as the era’s biggest challenge, but noted progress leading to Bulgaria annulling restrictive
2026-05-24North Macedonia Begins EU Accession Talks
North Macedonia has officially begun EU accession negotiations after 17 years, signaling a major milestone in its foreign policy and diplomatic trajectory. Key points: - The intergovernmental conference in Brussels marks the start of negotiations; the EU will screen Macedonian institutions as part of the enlargement process. - EU leaders and officials emphasize continued reform, rule of law, anti-corruption efforts, and civil society engagement as essential to progress. - Th
2026-05-24Shekerinska
North Macedonia is preparing to receive an invitation for NATO accession talks, expected to occur around July 11. The process is described as short (roughly 3–6 months), modeled on Montenegro, Albania, and Croatia, culminating in signing the Accession Protocol and starting ratification among member states. The key domestic steps are a national referendum and constitutional changes to remove remaining obstacles. Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska and NATO coordinator Stevo Pe
2026-05-24North Macedonia's 3-6-9 Reform Plan Progress
North Macedonia is highlighting progress on its EU-oriented reform agenda and the political dynamics around key-laws and state institutions: - Government official Bujar Osmani claims 90% of the 3-6-9 reform plan is complete, with 95% of measures expected to be implemented. Remaining items include reform laws like the Law on Courts, which require a two-thirds parliamentary majority, and other measures (e.g., legal aid, code of ethics in Parliament, Strategy for Cooperation wi
2026-05-24