Republik Nordmazedonien

North Macedonia is to finally open accession talks with the EU on Tuesday (19 July) after MPs backed a deal to end Bulgaria's veto.

Bulgaria has called on North Macedonia to end purported "discrimination" against its ethnic-Bulgarian minority, to eradicate "hate speech" in the media, and to make changes to the country's history textbooks.

For two years, Bulgaria has blocked North Macedonia's bid to open accession talks with the EU because of a historical row. But with new governments in Skopje and Sofia, there is hope that compromise can be reached.

Governing Social Democrats choose deputy Finance Minister Dimitar Kovacevski to replace Zoran Zaev as head of party – and, most probably, as head of government – in Sunday’s internal party elections.

North Macedonian lawmakers will vote on November 11 on a motion of no confidence in the Social Democrat-led government.

The parliamentary majority behind the Social Democrat-led government is small but remains firm, all the government’s partner parties insisted on Monday after meeting Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who has announced his resignation following the defeat of his party at Sunday’s local elections.

The European Parliament on Thursday (25 March) will vote on the issue, as part of North Macedonia's stalled accession talks to the European Union. Bulgaria last year harpooned North Macedonia's path to accession. Sofia is upset over issues tied to language and history, in moves widely panned by other member states.

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Bulgaria blocked discussions among EU ministers on North Macedonia’s bid to start negotiations to join the bloc in November. The veto also prevented Albania from starting accession talks, as in terms of EU enlargement, the EU treats Skopje and Tirana as a package.

[…] The vote on August 30 just ahead of a midnight deadline returns Zoran Zaev to the post of prime minister after his party narrowly won a victory over right-wing rivals in July.

Pro-Western leftist leader Zoran Zaev seems set for another term as North Macedonian prime minister after securing the backing of DUI, a party representing ethnic Albanians on Tuesday. Under the terms of the deal, however, he is to stand down at the end of the upcoming term and have an Albanian run the government for 100 days ahead of the new election, which is expected in 2024.