Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

▸6 unchanged paragraphs

on the 2025 Commission report on North Macedonia

(2025/2254(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of North Macedonia, of the other part,

– having regard to North Macedonia’s application for membership of the European Union, submitted on 22 March 2004,

– having regard to the European Council decision of 16 December 2005 to grant North Macedonia EU candidate country status,

Added– having regard to the Council conclusions of 18 July 2022 on Enlargement – North Macedonia and Albania and of 17 December 2024 on Enlargement,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1529 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 September 2021 establishing the Instrument for Pre-Accession assistance (IPA III),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/1449 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans,

Changed– having regard to the Reform Agenda of North Macedonia as approved by the Commission under the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans on 23 October 2024,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 5 February 2020 entitled ‘Enhancing the accession process – A credible EU perspective for the Western Balkans’ (COM(2020)0057),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘New growth plan for the Western Balkans’ (COM(2023)0691),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 20 March 2024 on pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews (COM(2024)0146),

Changed– having regard to the Commission communication of 8 July 2025 entitled ‘2025 Rule of Law Report’ (COM(2025)0900), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘2025 Rule of Law Report – Country Chapter on the rule of law situation in North Macedonia’ (SWD(2024)0930),(SWD(2025)0930),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 4 November 2025 entitled ‘2025 Communication on EU enlargement policy’ (COM(2025)0690), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘North Macedonia 2025 Report’ (SWD(2025)0753),

Added– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights,

Added– having regard to the EU-Western Balkans summits, held in Sofia, Zagreb and Brdo pri Kranju in 2018, 2020 and 2021 respectively, and their declarations,

– having regard to the declaration of the EU-Western Balkans summit held in Brussels on 17 December 2025,

– having regard to the final report of 23 September 2024 of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission on North Macedonia’s presidential election on 24 April 2024 and parliamentary elections on 8 May 2024,

Added– having regard to the 19th meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Committee between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia,

– having regard to the joint recommendations adopted at the 24th meeting of the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee, held on 26 and 27 November 2025 in Strasbourg,

Changed– having regard to its previous resolutions on North Macedonia, and in particular its resolution of 24 October 2019 on opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania,

Removed– having regard to the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, signed on 1 August 2017 and ratified in January 2018,

Added– having regard to its resolution of 29 February 2024 on deepening EU integration in view of future enlargement,

Added– having regard to its resolution of 11 March 2026 on the EU enlargement strategy,

Added– having regard to the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement,

Added– having regard to the Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, signed on 1 August 2017 and ratified in January 2018,

– having regard to the Final Agreement for the Settlement of the Differences as described in UN Security Council resolutions 817 (1993) and 845 (1993), the termination of the Interim Accord of 1995, and the establishment of a Strategic Partnership between Greece and North Macedonia on 17 June 2018, also known as the Prespa Agreement,

– having regard to the Third UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names in 1977,

Changed– having regard to the Post-monitoringpost-monitoring dialogue with North Macedonia and the respective report adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 8 January 2026,

Added– having regard to the sixth report of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance on North Macedonia, adopted on 29 June 2023,

Added– having regard to the joint staff working document entitled ‘Objectives and Indicators to frame the implementation of the Gender Action Plan III (2021-25)’ (SWD(2020)0284) accompanying the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 25 November 2020 entitled ‘EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III – An Ambitions Agenda for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in EU External Action’ (JOIN(2020)0017), as well as the Country-level Implementation Plan (CLIP) for North Macedonia,

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

Changed– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0000/2026),(A10-0162/2026),

A. whereas North Macedonia has held EU candidate country status since 2005 and successfully completed the screening process in December 2023;

Change 1

ChangedB. whereas North Macedonia’s strategic commitment to EU accession and the national consensus among political parties are unwavering, and the support among citizens remainsfor high;EU membership has increased by almost 10 % to 71 %compared to 2024;

Change 2

ChangedC. whereas the EUEU’s enlargement policy remains a strategic investment in peace, democracy, stability and prosperity on the European continent, and the credibility of the accession process depends on strict conditionality and fair treatment of candidate countries; whereas candidate countries must fully comply with the Copenhagen criteria and adhere to European values; whereas bilateral issues should be resolved bilaterally and in line with international law and should not be used to block or further politicise the enlargement process; whereas the credibility of the EU’s enlargement policy depends equally on candidate countries delivering reforms and on the EU honouring its commitments once all conditions have been met;

Change 3

ChangedD. whereas the European Parliament has consistently supported North Macedonia’s European perspective whileand maintained a continuous dialogue with the authorities of North Macedonia, stakeholders and civil society, underlining the need for sustained reformsreforms, respect for democratic values, the rule of law and human rights, and the fulfilment of agreed commitments;

Change 4

RemovedE. whereas political polarisation, limited cross-party cooperation and reduced public trust in institutions continue to affect reform delivery;

AddedE. whereas emigration continues to affect North Macedonia negatively, posing long-term risks to the financial sustainability of essential public services;

RemovedF. whereas North Macedonia has made measurable progress on the implementation of its Reform Agenda;

AddedF. whereas political polarisation, limited cross-party cooperation and the slow implementation of reforms continue to reduce public trust and involvement;

Removed1. Reiterates its full support for North Macedonia’s dedication for EU membership, based on clear and measurable progress and strict but fair conditionality;

AddedG. whereas, especially in complex historical contexts, matters of language, identity and culture are inherently sensitive; whereas adding such issues to the enlargement discussions risks complicating and politicising the accession process of candidate countries, and should therefore be addressed with restraint and responsibility, in a manner that preserves the integrity of the EU’s enlargement policy;

Removed2. Notes that the reform momentum requires renewed political commitment, including for the necessary constitutional amendments, constructive cross-party cooperation and effective parliamentary oversight;

AddedH. whereas North Macedonia has made measurable yet slow progress on the implementation of its Reform Agenda, mainly covering reforms in areas other than the fundamentals; whereas the implementation of the Reform Agenda helps contribute to the modernisation and development of the society, economy and institutions of North Macedonia;

Removed3. Urges the European Council to signal, publicly and unequivocally, that the Council intends to swiftly and unconditionally take the positive decision to enter into the next phase of accession negotiations with North Macedonia once the conditions of its conclusions of 18 July 2022 have been fulfilled;

AddedI. whereas the Council has concluded that it stands ready to hold an intergovernmental conference without further delay or additional political decisions, as soon as North Macedonia has fulfilled its commitment to complete the required constitutional changes, in line with its internal procedures;

Removed4. Commends the commitment of the Macedonian citizens to EU integration and the support they show to this project two decades on from starting the process; calls to use gradual integration in as many areas as possible to allow Macedonian citizens to benefit from EU integration already before accession;

AddedJ. whereas individual EU Member States have expressed their positions on North Macedonia’s negotiating framework;

Removed5. Recalls that bilateral disputes between countries should be addressed through open dialogue and genuine cooperation outside of the accession process;

Added1. Reiterates its full support for North Macedonia’s dedication for EU membership, based on clear and measurable progress and strict but fair conditionality, as well as for the necessary transformative changes that are required to fulfil the accession criteria; commends the country’s commitment to European integration and encourages continued efforts in advancing EU-aligned reforms; recalls, however, that progress in accession negotiations continues to depend on persistent and in-depth reforms and be strictly merit-based;

Removed6. Welcomes the stability of interethnic relations and the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement and calls on all actors to preserve the integrity of the country;

Added2. Notes, with regret, the lack of progress since its last report; underlines that the reform momentum requires renewed political commitment and clear actions, including the necessary constitutional amendments, constructive cross-party cooperation and effective parliamentary oversight; understands that the constitutional amendments are an important but divisive topic in a country that has overcome many challenges on its way to becoming an independent nation; underscores, in this regard, that all political stakeholders committed to the country’s European path should urgently join forces to implement the necessary constitutional changes that will enable the opening of the first negotiation cluster; recalls that cross-party cooperation will continue to be essential when aligning national legislation with the EU acquis throughout the negotiations;

Added3. Welcomes recent political signals in North Macedonia about a renewed commitment to undertake reforms; underlines, however, that the country will be assessed on the basis of a track record of implemented reforms only; underscores that the lack of cross-party cooperation to advance constitutional amendments is not an excuse to delay other necessary reforms, which would benefit the country and its citizens regardless of its European path;

Added4. Calls on the Member States, the Council and the Commission to safeguard the predictability and credibility of the accession process, also with a view to maintaining public support for accession in enlargement countries; urges, in this regard, the European Council and the Member States to signal, publicly and unequivocally, that the Council intends to swiftly and unconditionally take the positive decision to enter into the next phase of accession negotiations with North Macedonia once the conditions of its conclusions of 18 July 2022 have been fulfilled; notes that North Macedonia is one of the longest pending candidate countries, having been granted candidate status over two decades ago; underlines that the European Council’s repeated postponement of the start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia has contributed to the country’s political stakeholders and citizens having a negative perception of the prospects of EU accession;

Added5. Reiterates the European Council’s call from its 2024 conclusions on North Macedonia to accelerate the completion of the constitutional changes; recalls that the Council has reaffirmed its readiness to convene another intergovernmental conference, without further delay or additional political decisions, as soon as North Macedonia has fulfilled its commitment, in line with its internal procedures, and that thereafter, the Council stands ready to open the first negotiating cluster as soon as possible, in line with the negotiating framework;

Added6. Commends the commitment of the citizens of North Macedonia to EU integration and the support they show to this project two decades on from starting the process; calls on the Commission to present clear proposals on how to apply instruments of gradual integration and guarantee their effective implementation, including those under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, as a complement to and not as a substitute for full membership, in as many areas as possible to allow the citizens of North Macedonia to benefit from EU integration before accession;

Added7. Recalls the need for unanimous decision-making on the opening and closing of accession negotiations as major political milestones in the enlargement process; reiterates its call to enhance the EU’s capacity to act through simplified processes, such as the use of qualified majority voting in the intermediate steps in the enlargement process, fully in line with the Treaties;