Macedonia and Greece tension over EU bid
- Greece warns North Macedonia about potential harm to its EU bid due to the reopening of the name dispute.
- New president of North Macedonia refers to the country as 'Macedonia', reigniting a longstanding name issue with Greece.
- An agreement between North Macedonia and Greece in Prespa is seen as a positive step, urging both countries to show leadership and avoid political games.
Greece warned North Macedonia that reopening a name dispute could hurt its EU bid. The new prime minister in Skopje rejected criticism from Athens. Greece said it wouldn't approve agreements from the Prespa Agreement without full compliance from Skopje. North Macedonia added "North" to its name to end a dispute with Greece. The government in Skopje was social democratic, and Athens had a left-wing administration. The prime minister in Skopje insisted on using "Macedonia" in public appearances. Greece was upset when the new prime minister didn't acknowledge the country's new name during the swearing-in ceremony. The two countries have been in a long dispute over the name and history, which blocked North Macedonia's NATO and EU bids. The return of the right wing in North Macedonia risks reigniting tensions with Greece and Bulgaria. Bulgaria wants North Macedonia to acknowledge its Bulgarian minority in the constitution. The ruling party in North Macedonia lacks the votes to make the necessary changes. The Prespa Agreement in 2018 resolved a 27-year dispute between Skopje and Athens. Many Greek politicians struggle to accept or pronounce the Macedonian language. The EU's support for the Prespa Agreement was undermined by Bulgaria's demands. Leadership is needed in Greece, North Macedonia, and the EU to resolve the issue.