Anger at EU North Macedonia deal may unseat government

Significance

North Macedonia’s government and EU member states have welcomed a framework proposed in the final days of France’s EU Council presidency for opening EU accession talks with Skopje. Bulgaria has blocked setting a date for starting talks since 2020, owing to a dispute over language and history.

Impacts

• High support for EU membership in North Macedonia is likely to keep falling, having been in continuous decline during Bulgaria’s blockage.
• Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, who enjoys considerable popularity in North Macedonia, has welcomed the French proposal.
• The pro-Russian Levica party is among forces leading the protests against the proposal, which would appear to serve Moscow’s interests.