The European Union reiterated, on Sunday 12 May, the importance of the new Macedonian authorities using the official name ‘North Macedonia’ to refer to their country, in accordance with the legally binding Prespa Agreement signed by Greece and the former FYROM in June 2018.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, expressed his “significant disappointment” via Platform X regarding the new Macedonian President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, for not using her country’s constitutional name at her inauguration.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, went further, linking the use of the name ‘North Macedonia’ to the Balkan country’s progress towards integration into the European Union. “For North Macedonia to continue its successful path on EU accession it is paramount that the country continues on the path of reforms and full respect for its binding agreements, including the Prespa Agreement”, she warned.
During her inauguration speech on Sunday, Siljanovska-Davkova, who belongs to the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party opposed to the Prespa Agreement, swore that she would respect the constitution and laws “of Macedonia”, even though - according to AFP - her official written speech contained the words ‘North Macedonia’. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the statement as an “illegal and impermissible” provocation on Monday 13 May, via X.
On Friday 10 May, the European Commission announced the disbursement to Skopje of the first instalment of €50 million in the form of loans granted on preferential terms, as part of the €100 million macro-financial assistance package for 2023 and 2024 approved by the EU in the summer of 2023 (see EUROPE 13219/21). According to the EU institution, the Macedonian authorities have made progress in the management of public finances by strengthening the control of public investments, setting up an independent budget council and broadening the tax base. Other advances relate to reform of the judicial system, the fight against the informal economy and measures to promote energy efficiency. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)