Why North Macedonia Can Join the EU Now

Just published is my note (below) in the FT arguing that North Macedonia can begin accession talks with the EU without waiting for all the members of Macron’s European Political Community from Iceland to Turkey, the UK to Armenia, to join in a “Big Bang” type accession which won’t happen for decades if it ever does.

“It would indeed be welcome news if the EU could raise its game and extend its osmotic power of open trade, investment, and European values over the West Balkans where six nations have been in accession limbo since the Milosevic decade of war and terror finally ended in 1999. (FT 8 June Alec Russell “Brxles seeks fresh start for West Balkans”)

“But it would be a mistake to go for a Big Bang enlargement as in 2004. Better to bring in the West Balkan nations one by one.

“A start could be made with North Macedonia. This small nation with a population of around 2 million shows that a Bulgarian-Macedonian Orthodox majority can co-exist with the 29 per cent who speak Albanian. In Skopje the government has responded with a modest name change to meet the Greek concern that its Alexander the Great heritage and it largest region of Macedonia would be subsumed by the vulgar ahistorical claim of some Skopje ultra-nationalists. North Macedonia has also agreed to demands from Sofia that it recognises the existence of the 1,000 strong Bulgarian community.

“North Madedonia is a poor nation but with growth rates of 4 per cent and some of the finest mountain and lake tourism on offer in Europe as well as the potential for green economic and agro-industries. It would  flourish  despite being a small state. Moving fast on North Macedonia entering the EU would send a signal to other would-be EU members to clean up their acts to obtain EU membership.

“Finally, Greece would have an EU member state on its northern border to do business with `and help grow the wider Aegean-Adriactic region