North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic orientation began with its declaration of independence following the breakup of Yugoslavia. After the political uprising and conflicts of the early 1990s, the country set membership in the European Union and NATO as strategic objectives.
95.3 percent voted in the independence referendum
In the independence referendum held on September 8, 1991, 95.3 percent of those who went to the polls voted in favor of independence. Many countries, led by Türkiye, recognized the independence of the country then known as Macedonia. Kiro Gligorov became the country's first president.
Macedonia's own currency entered circulation on April 26, 1992. The country's army was established in August of the same year.
UN membership and the name dispute with Greece
Macedonia was admitted to the United Nations unanimously in a vote held by the UN General Assembly on April 8, 1993. Because of Greece's objection, the country was referred to at the UN by the provisional reference "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."
Macedonia and Greece negotiated for years to resolve the name dispute. Following UN-mediated talks, the two countries signed the Prespa Agreement in June 2018.
The agreement provided for changing the country's name to "North Macedonia" and establishing a strategic partnership. In the referendum held in September 2018, 91.46 percent of those who voted supported adopting the agreement and maintaining the goal of membership in the European Union and NATO.
Turnout in the referendum, which was boycotted by the opposition at the time, stood at 36.91 percent. Following the name change, North Macedonia became a NATO member in 2020.
Constitutional condition in EU negotiations
North Macedonia obtained candidate-country status in 2005. The first intergovernmental conference for accession negotiations with the European Union was held on July 19, 2022.
The opening of chapters in the EU negotiations is expected to begin after the constitutional amendments stemming from the bilateral protocol signed with Bulgaria are adopted. The amendments require Bulgarians to be included among the communities listed in the Constitution of North Macedonia.
The Assembly of North Macedonia has 120 seats. A two-thirds majority, meaning the support of 80 lawmakers, is required for a constitutional amendment.
The planned amendment would add Bulgarian, Croatian, Montenegrin, Slovenian, Jewish and Egyptian communities to the constitutional wording, "citizens of North Macedonia: Macedonian, Albanian, Turk, Vlach, Serb, Roma, Bosniak."
