What changed

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

P10_TA(2026)0218

on the 2025 Commission report on North Macedonia

(2025/2254(INI))

Committee on Foreign Affairs

PE784.260

European Parliament resolution of 17 June 2026 on the 2025 Commission report on North Macedonia (2025/2254(INI))

– having regard to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of North Macedonia, of the other part,

J. whereas individual EU Member States have expressed their positions on North Macedonia’s negotiating framework;

K. whereas finding a common approach to communicating and engaging with the past and establishing a culture of remembrance in a mutually respectful way is the foundation on which Bulgaria and North Macedonia should build their future relationship; whereas the relationship between the future generations of North Macedonia and Bulgaria will be a reflection of the education processes in the two countries;

1. Reiterates its full support for North Macedonia’s dedication for EU membership, based on clear and measurable progress and strict but fair conditionality, as well as for the necessary transformative changes that are required to fulfil the accession criteria; commends the country’s commitment to European integration and encourages continued efforts in advancing EU-aligned reforms; recalls, however, that progress in accession negotiations continues to depend on persistent and in-depth reforms and be strictly merit-based;

10. Welcomes the stability of interethnic relations in North Macedonia and the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, including through equitable representation mechanisms; calls on all actors to preserve the foundations of stability and integrity of the country, advance relations, cooperation and exchanges between ethnic and minority groups and other communities, and avoid divisive rhetoric;

11. Takes note of the decision of the Constitutional Court of North Macedonia of 18 September 2024 on the annulment of certain provisions concerning quotas for representatives of Albanian and other communities in public institutions; underlines that the administration of the country should reflect its multi-ethnic composition; calls on the authorities to ensure the adequate and fair representation of all communities in line with the Ohrid Framework Agreement and to amend and implement the respective draft law fully in line with the opinion of the Venice Commission and EU standards; urges the authorities of North Macedonia to swiftly resolve the matter of the use of the Albanian language for state exams to ensure the practical implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement in both law and spirit, and not to portray the student protests disingenuously as politically driven or as a destabilising factor;

12. Notes that the Stabilisation and Association Committee recently welcomed progress in achieving the benchmarks for the opening of the fundamentals cluster through roadmaps for public administration reform and for the rule of law chapters; encourages North Macedonia to prepare and finalise all work related to the opening benchmarks for the fundamentals cluster in a transparent and meaningful consultation process with all relevant stakeholders, including civil society;

38. Welcomes enhanced cooperation on border management and calls on North Macedonia to strengthen migration management, combat criminal networks of migrant smugglers, human traffickers and other types of organised crime, improve alignment with the EU acquis and address persistent challenges in handling regular and irregular migration in full respect of human rights and international law; underlines that illegal pushbacks at North Macedonia’s borders need to be prevented;

39. Commends the Government of North Macedonia for its rapid response to the antisemitic arson attack targeting a Jewish community building in Skopje on 12 April 2026;

Rule of law

39.40. Expresses concern that the judicial system, the independence of courts and the prosecution, and efforts to strengthen the rule of law and anti-corruption frameworks have not advanced sufficiently; calls on political stakeholders to urgently refrain from political interference in the judiciary; notes, with concern, deep structural weaknesses and negative trends in the functioning of the judiciary, including inadequate financing and staffing of judicial institutions, undermining its independence; calls, therefore, on North Macedonia to accelerate the implementation of the Strategy for Judicial Reform 2024-2028;

40.41. Underlines the importance of safeguarding the integrity and independence of the judiciary, including by strengthening the Judicial Council in line with the recommendation and opinion of the 2023 Venice Commission peer review mission ;mission;

41.42. Expresses concern that the amendments to the Criminal Code in North Macedonia, which have shortened statutes of limitations and reduced penalties for high-level corruption and abuse of office, have undermined ongoing judicial proceedings, including high-profile cases, generating a perception of impunity for prominent political actors and further weakening public confidence in the judiciary;

42.43. Calls on the competent authorities to ensure adequate follow-up on cases of potential hate crime, including those concerning ethnic groups and communities;

43.44. Notes, with concern, that no progress has been made in preventing and combating corruption and that corruption remains prevalent in many areas; underscores that a significant and inexplicable gap remains between formally announced corruption investigations and judicial findings of guilt in high-level corruption cases; calls on the Government of North Macedonia to improve the implementation of its national strategy for the prevention of corruption and conflict of interest and to adopt a new Criminal Code in line with the EU acquis and international standards; calls, furthermore, for strengthened whistleblower protection, as it remains weak, thus discouraging individuals from reporting instances of corruption; welcomes, however, North Macedonia’s active participation in the International Treaty on Exchange of Data for the Verification of Asset Declarations, positioning the country as a regional reference point in this mechanism;

44.45. Urges the timely adoption of a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy for 2026-2030 with clear responsibilities and measurable targets, and calls for the implementation of outstanding recommendations of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO);

45.46. Notes, with concern, that delays in court proceedings and resource constraints continue to hinder the establishment of a robust track record of high-level corruption cases; calls, in particular, for investigations and final convictions in high-level corruption cases, which could serve as an example that corruption is being addressed at all levels and that there will be no impunity;

46.47. Notes that the perceived level of trust in the judiciary remains very low and that further efforts are needed to prevent undue influence and intimidation;

47.48. Calls on North Macedonia to enhance its efforts to combat money laundering;

48.49. Calls for a more concerted effort in effectively countering organised crime; calls on the Government of North Macedonia to align national legislation on weapons, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances with the EU acquis;

49.50. Encourages the national authorities to establish a comprehensive support framework for female survivors of gender-based violence, including by providing legally guaranteed financial assistance, guaranteeing free legal aid and exemption from court costs, creating a state fund to cover unpaid child support, and increasing investment in women’s economic empowerment through targeted training, social enterprises and local employment initiatives;

Socio-economic reforms

50.51. Supports continued efforts to modernise the economy, address skills mismatches, strengthen the digital economy and improve the business environment, which are consistent with responding to the competitive pressures of the EU internal market; emphasises that sustainable economic growth depends on the rule of law, the predictability of the judiciary and effective action against corruption; calls for the implementation of the 2023 Organic Budget Law, introducing fiscal rules and a Fiscal Council and strengthening the medium-term budget procedure;

51.52. Underlines the need to address social challenges, ensure high-quality employment policies, foster social convergence towards EU standards and achieve progress as regards the European Pillar of Social Rights;

52.53. Welcomes the first steps in implementing the Reform Agenda and the multiannual work programme under the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, which is on track to deliver concrete benefits to citizens; encourages North Macedonia to continue implementing its Reform Agenda; highlights the need to considerably speed up and deliver on the Reform Agenda, in particular on the fundamentals cluster; stresses that the disbursement of funds must remain strictly conditional on the fulfilment of agreed reform objectives and milestones; welcomes the adoption of the comprehensive cybersecurity framework and the updated Law on Electronic Documents, Electronic Identification and Trust Services; welcomes the objective and fact-based manner in which the Commission has assessed the implementation of reform steps thus far; warmly welcomes the recent disbursement of EUR 65,7 million to North Macedonia under the Reform and Growth Facility, following a positive assessment of reform implementation, namely in the areas of digitalisation and education;

53.54. Calls for the EU and North Macedonia to pursue strengthened oversight and meaningful participation of civil society organisations, business associations and social partners in all stages of the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, including the design of reform measures, implementation of projects and monitoring of results; recognises the need to improve the business climate and the functioning of the market economy; calls for greater focus to be placed on measures to correct market distortions and on social protective measures; calls for greater attention to be paid to negative demographic trends and to tackling the informal economy and its negative social and fiscal impacts;

54.55. Calls on the authorities to safeguard the independence and legitimate role of representative trade unions, and ensure respect for fundamental labour rights, including collective bargaining, in law and practice; calls, furthermore, on the authorities to ensure constructive and meaningful dialogue with trade unions to address urgent issues such as wages, working conditions and social protection, including as regards platform work;

55.56. Recognises the strategic importance of the cultural and creative sectors and the need for a stable, EU-aligned copyright framework; calls on North Macedonia to ensure fair remuneration for authors and performers, align collective rights management with the EU acquis and strengthen enforcement against piracy; underlines that weak protection of rights holders undermines media sustainability and the development of high-quality audiovisual content;

56.57. Calls for the continued implementation of labour market activation strategies for young people, the long-term unemployed, low-skilled individuals and disadvantaged groups, such as women, persons with disabilities, Roma and Egyptians;

57.58. Encourages the strengthening of youth policy by amending the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies, establishing effective monitoring and a dedicated budget code, and improving local youth structures;

58.59. Welcomes the integration of North Macedonia into the geographical scope of the single euro payments area (SEPA);

59.60. Warmly welcomes the Commission proposal and the Council’s authorisation to open negotiations onto extendingextend the EU ‘roam like at home’ regime to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia;Serbia and calls on the CouncilCommission and the Western Balkan partners to swiftly authorisetake the necessary steps for the reciprocal opening of negotiationsthe withEU’s and the Western Balkan partners;partners’ roaming markets; emphasises that extending the ‘roam like at home’ area to the Western Balkans would deliver tangible benefits to citizens and businesses alike, fostering people-to-people contacts, boosting economic ties, supporting educational exchanges and facilitating tourism;

60.61. Calls on North Macedonia to align with the EU acquis on the screening of foreign direct investments;

Environment, biodiversity, energy and transport

61.62. Calls for increased investments in transport and energy infrastructure and in advancing efforts to bring transport, energy and environmental legislation closer to EU standards; calls for national legislation to be aligned with EU passenger rights rules; underlines the need to strengthen connectivity and ensure unimpeded trade flows, in particular in road traffic; calls for the implementation of the EU’s Entry/Exit System, while bearing in mind its impact on professional drivers and supply chains;

62.63. Highlights the importance of cross-border connections such as the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridors VIII and X, as they are vital in increasing economic cooperation with neighbouring countries and people-to-people contacts; counts on the effective implementation of the commitments undertaken; welcomes the agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia on the construction of a cross-border railway tunnel, marking a decisive step towards completing the rail link along corridor VIII; notes the strategic importance of corridor VIII for the EU and NATO’s geostrategic autonomy, serving as a key logistics route along NATO’s southern flank;

63.64. Welcomes the adoption of the Energy Law in May 2025, but underlines that the country is still heavily dependent on coal; calls for the swift uptake of renewable energy and for increased focus to be placed on energy efficiency, especially for buildings;

64.65. Regrets that little progress has been made in environmental legislation; calls, in particular, for urgent action to address air and water quality and waste water management, including through increased and clearly earmarked national funding for water supply and sanitation infrastructure in urban and rural areas, integrating village water systems into public utilities where feasible, with clearly assigned institutional responsibilities, and ensuring regular sanitary and laboratory controls, with public disclosure of results and strengthened inspection oversight, including the introduction of sanctions for unregulated, poorly maintained, or polluting systems;

65.66. Notes, with concern, the persistently high levels of air pollution, particularly in urban areas, which are strongly linked to coal combustion and cement production; expresses serious concern, in this context, about the new Law on Control of Industrial Emissions and urges the authorities to amend it through a transparent and inclusive public procedure involving all relevant stakeholders, notably environmental experts and civil society organisations; stresses the urgent need to improve air quality in cities, including through measures such as the introduction of low emission zones and the acquisition of modern, less polluting public transport vehicles;

66.67. Notes, with concern, the limited progress in implementing horizontal environmental legislation and urges North Macedonia to fully align and effectively implement the Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Directives, including secondary legislation related to small hydropower projects;

67.68. Urges the Government of North Macedonia and local authorities to step up measures on biodiversity, to establish effective legal protection for Emerald sites designated under the Bern Convention and to accelerate the identification and designation of future Natura 2000 sites; urges the Government of North Macedonia to prioritise and expedite the adoption of a new law on nature protection to replace the outdated legal framework and ensure full alignment with the EU Habitats and Birds Directives;

68.69. Welcomes North Macedonia’s continued cooperation with Kosovo and Albania regarding the transboundary Sharr Mountains National Park; reiterates the urgent need to adopt the law on the re-proclamation of Mavrovo National Park and to finalise and effectively implement its management plan; encourages the inclusion of Jablanica in the national list of protected areas; urges North Macedonia to develop and implement a national action and management plan for the conservation of the Balkan lynx, aligned with the regional strategy and in cooperation with neighbouring countries, including with a view to maintaining ecological connectivity between key habitats, including Mavrovo and Jablanica and transboundary areas;

Regional cooperation and foreign policy

69.70. Welcomes North Macedonia’s valuable and significant contributions to regional cooperation and stability via its engagement in regional economic and diplomatic initiatives such as the Berlin Process, the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the implementation of common regional market agreements;

70.71. Calls for consistent commitment to dialogue and cooperation with neighbouring countries to strengthen regional stability and foster mutual trust; calls for the further promotion of people-to-people contacts across south-eastern Europe; underlines the importance of implementing international agreements in good faith, such as the Prespa Agreement and the Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria;

71.72. Acknowledges the existence of differing interpretations concerning the historical characteristics of Macedonian society; underscores that its report does not aim to prejudge or constrain scholarly discourse on these matters nor do such interpretations bear influence on its assessment of North Macedonia’s progress towards EU accession, which remains anchored in the Copenhagen criteria and the principles of good neighbourly relations; urges all parties to resume the work of the Joint Multidisciplinary Expert Commission on Historical and Educational Issues of Bulgaria and North Macedonia and to fulfil its work in good faith, thereby bringing societies closer together; condemns any attempts to replace historical monuments and/or artefacts, including the destruction of authentic cultural heritage; regrets the destruction and falsification of Bulgarian inscriptions;

72.73. Expresses strong concern that the most recent session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission, set up under Article 12 of the Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation, was held on 17 July 2022 and that no new session has been held since then; urges the Governments of Bulgaria and North Macedonia to swiftly organise the third session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission so as to advance the implementation of the Treaty and its Protocols;

73.74. Strongly urges the Joint Multidisciplinary Expert Commission on Historical and Educational Issues of Bulgaria and North Macedonia, established as a result of the Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria, to achieve clear and tangible results; underlines that the texts should reflect the interpretation of historical facts and figures from the common history of both peoples based on objective, authentic and evidence-based historical sources and documents, scientific interpretation and historical events, as stipulated in the second protocol to the Treaty with Bulgaria;

74.75. Notes, with concern, the increasingly strong links between North Macedonia and the Government of Serbia, which pursues an illiberal agenda; cautions, furthermore, against growing Chinese economic and political influence in the region, in particular through infrastructure projects and lending; notes, with equal concern, reports of Russian efforts to project influence in North Macedonia; calls for the EU to support North Macedonia in strengthening resilience against external influence conducted through religious networks; expresses concern over narratives promoted in the region that question the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, including the so-called Serbian World;

75.76. Recalls the need to open the Yugoslav secret service archives (UDBA and KOS), kept in both North Macedonia and Serbia; emphasises the need to open these archives region-wide to deal with the totalitarian past in a transparent way, with a view to strengthening democracy, accountability and institutions in the Western Balkans;

76.77. Commends North Macedonia’s strong and long-standing alignment with the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy, including on restrictive measures; regrets, however, the increase in abstentions on important votes in international bodies instead of following the majority EU position; calls, therefore, on the Government of North Macedonia, in cases of doubt, to align with the majority position within the EU; highlights North Macedonia’s geostrategic significance and its important role as a member of NATO; welcomes the country’s active participation in EU missions and operations under the common security and defence policy and its contribution to the EU’s leading role in peacekeeping, conflict prevention and international crisis management; welcomes North Macedonia’s readiness to enhance cooperation with the EU within the framework of the Security and Defence Partnership;

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77.78. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the European Council, the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the President, Government and Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

This year, I have the honour of presenting my second country report on North Macedonia. The report seeks to provide a balanced and objective assessment of the country’s progress in the accession process and, as per established practice, comes in response to the Commission’s 2025 Enlargement Package.

North Macedonia currently finds itself in a difficult position, as the accession process remains at a standstill:

Despite some positive reform steps, progress on the EU reform agenda - particularly in key areas such as the rule of law, judicial reform, and the fight against corruption - has been insufficient. This is attributable to the election campaign, limited capacities within the public administration, and a lack of sustained political commitment.

No progress has been made on the constitutional amendments, due to concerns about potential additional bilateral blockades or demands from its neighbouring country. There is an urgent need for increased political will on both sides to move beyond this impasse.

However, at a time of major shifts in the international order as Europe has known it - notably linked to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, unprecedented uncertainty surrounding the future of the transatlantic alliance, and broader threats to the rules-based international order - it is essential that Europe stands together. There is no room for ambiguity.

Against this geopolitical backdrop, opportunities may arise to reinvigorate and accelerate the accession process. That process will, in any scenario, remain merit-based and firmly grounded in progress on the fundamentals, particularly the rule of law. It is therefore essential that all political stakeholders in North Macedonia, notably the Government and Members of Parliament of the ruling majority, recognise this renewed sense of urgency and start delivering tangible, convincing, and genuine results in these core areas without any further delay.

Advancing reforms in the rule of law is not only decisive for moving closer to EU membership; it is equally vital for building a prosperous and resilient state that serves all its citizens. A functioning rule of law and a predictable, trustworthy investment climate are prerequisites for sustainable economic development. It will also enable the country and its citizens to fully benefit from gradual integration schemes and projects offered by the European Union.

At the same time, the EU and its Member States must also deliver. We must fully support the country, including through active diplomatic engagement to help North Macedonia making progress on its own commitments and overcome existing obstacles.

As for this House, and as in the previous reporting period, I remain committed to fostering a stable, constructive, pro-European, pro-democratic, and pro-enlargement majority in support of North Macedonia’s EU accession. I look forward to securing the backing of all Members who share this strategic objective.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register

European Commission, DG ENEST

EU Delegation in North Macedonia, EEAS

Austrian Embassy in North Macedonia

Bulgarian Embassy in North Macedonia

Balkan Investigative Network

Association of Journalists of North Macedonia

European Policy Centre Skopje

Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik

Metamorphosis Foundation

European Policy Institute

Institute for Democracy ‘Societas Civilis’

Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans

ELIAMEP

Romalitico

Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation

Organization of Women Sveti Nikole

HA Majka, Kumanovo

ESE Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women

Reactor - Research in Action

Coalition Margins

Sida waste management project

Bulgarian community representatives in North Macedonia

2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies

Government representatives of North Macedonia

Members of the Assembly of North Macedonia

Party members of ruling majority and opposition parties

Municipal government of Suto Orizari

U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

3.6.2026

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

43

17

13

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

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