At midday on Monday 1 October, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn hailed the previous day's vote in favour of the Prespa Agreement, calling on the Parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to amend the country's constitution.
"In a peaceful and democratic vote an overwhelming majority of those who exercised their right to vote said yes to the Prespa Agreement on the name issue and their European path", Mogherini and Hahn stated in a joint press release.
While 91.48% of voters responded to the question 'Are you for accession to the European Union and NATO, accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?', the call to boycott the vote, which was launched by President Gjorge Ivanov, seems to have been heard because only 36% of the Macedonians turned out to vote. This referendum was consultative, which suits the Macedonian government because the constitution requires a 50% quorum for imperative referenda.
Disregarding this low turnout rate, Mogherini and Hahn asked "all political and institutional actors now to act within their constitutional responsibilities beyond party political lines". As a result of this vote, the parliament is due to amend the constitution with a two thirds majority.
Mogherini and Hahn said the Prespa Agreement is "a historic opportunity not only for reconciliation in the region, but also for decisively moving the country forward on its European Union path".
The agreement would also enable Skopje's accession to NATO. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary General, hailed the vote and urged the leaders and political parties to "engage constructively and responsibly to seize this historic opportunity". "NATO’s door is open, but all national procedures have to be completed", he said.
The tone is more cautious on the side of the other signatory of the Prespa Agreement – Greece. "The result of the referendum (...) is contradictory: a strongly predominant 'yes' without the corresponding turnout; a large share of the neighbouring country's society supported the agreement. Yet, a significant share addressed it with scepticism", the Greek foreign affairs minister said in a press release.
As well as an amendment of the Macedonian constitution, the Greek Parliament must also ratify the agreement. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)