North Macedonia President Sparks Diplomatic Row with Greece at Inauguration

The newly elected nationalist president of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, referred to her country as "Macedonia" instead of "North Macedonia" during her swearing-in ceremony on May 13, 2024, sparking a diplomatic spat with Greece. The incident violated the terms of the 2018 Prespa Agreement between Athens and Skopje, which changed the country's name and constitution to allow North Macedonia to join NATO and start its EU accession process.

Why this matters: This diplomatic row has significant implications for North Macedonia's EU accession process and its relations with neighboring countries, potentially derailing years of progress towards integration. The incident also highlights the ongoing challenges of resolving historical and national identity disputes in the Balkans.

Greece's ambassador to Skopje, Sophia Philippidou, left the inauguration ceremony in protest. The Greek government expressed its strong objection to the act, emphasizing that it will only consider further progress in bilateral relations with North Macedonia and the country's European integration if the Prespa Agreement is fully implemented, particularly with regard to the use of the country's constitutional name.

Siljanovska-Davkova's right-wing VMRO party, which rejects the 2018 agreement, won presidential and parliamentary elections last week, making her the country's first female president. VMRO leader Hristijan Mickoski has consistently referred to the country as "Macedonia" and accused the previous government of making "humiliating compromises" to settle disputes with national neighbors. "For me, Macedonia is and will remain Macedonia," Mickoski declared.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of North Macedonia continuing its path of reforms and respecting its binding agreements, including the Prespa Agreement, to continue its EU accession process. "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," von der Leyen stated.

Greece has blocked North Macedonia's EU and NATO accession for decades, alleging that the country's name and history are being appropriated. Bulgaria has also blocked North Macedonia's EU bid, demanding constitutional changes to acknowledge the country's Bulgarian minority. The VMRO party's return to power is expected to complicate relations with both Greece and Bulgaria, as well as North Macedonia's EU accession path.

The diplomatic row between Greece and North Macedonia comes at a pivotal moment for the Balkan nation. After joining NATO in 2020 following the Prespa Agreement, North Macedonia has been working towards EU membership. However, the VMRO party's stance on the name issue and relations with neighbors threatens to derail that progress and strain ties with key allies in the region.

Key Takeaways

• Newly elected North Macedonia President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova referred to her country as "Macedonia" instead of "North Macedonia" during her swearing-in ceremony.
• This sparked a diplomatic row with Greece, which has significant implications for North Macedonia's EU accession process.
• Greece's ambassador to Skopje left the inauguration ceremony in protest, and the Greek government demanded full implementation of the Prespa Agreement.
• The VMRO party's return to power is expected to complicate relations with Greece and Bulgaria, as well as North Macedonia's EU accession path.
• EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of North Macedonia continuing its path of reforms and respecting its binding agreements.