The European Parliament voted on North Macedonia’s EU membership, resulting in a decision that withheld full support for the country’s accession. The vote tally reflected 411 votes in favor, 120 votes against, and 120 abstentions. According to the proceedings, the Parliament emphasized that continued progress in the accession negotiations is contingent upon the implementation of sustainable and deep structural reforms.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) expressed notable disappointment regarding the perceived lack of tangible progress since the release of the 2025 report. Specific areas cited by MEPs requiring immediate attention include strengthening the rule of law, executing judicial reforms, and enhancing efforts to combat corruption. The consensus among legislators was that achieving meaningful movement toward EU membership requires a significant revitalization of domestic political commitment and robust cross-party cooperation.
This cooperation is deemed essential not only for passing the necessary constitutional amendments but also for enabling the opening of the first thematic round of formal negotiations. The official parliamentary report highlighted that while support remains conditional, the identified systemic weaknesses must be addressed decisively. The dissenting votes, recorded against full support, underscored the breadth of concerns regarding governance standards.
An Austrian Green MEP, Thomas Waitz, among others, contributed to the discourse stressing that sustained political will is the prerequisite for any further advancement in the integration process.
Topics: #report #reforms #against
It seems the path to EU membership remains heavily conditional and politically fraught.