Macedonia and the journey towards international recognition.

A name problem

 State recognition is the unilateral act by which a state admits that, as far as it is concerned, another subject possesses subjectivity or international legal personality. 

The case of the Republic of Macedonia is particular, since Modern Macedonia was born in 1945, as one of the six constituent republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When Yugoslavia disintegrated in 1991, Macedonia declared its independence.

Although today the prevailing trend in the international community is that the act of recognition has a declarative effect, therefore, if the states meet the 4 constituent elements - territory, sovereignty, government and population - that state exists, beyond the fact that the set of states within the international community recognize them progressively; it is important to note its recognition by the international community. 

Unlike other former Yugoslav republics, Macedonia enjoyed a virtually unopposed and comparatively peaceful transition to independence. 

While its independence was declared on November 21, 1991, full international recognition was delayed by Greek objections to the new state being called Macedonia, leading to a dispute over the country's name. 

Because of this, admission to the United Nations was blocked until April 1993, when Macedonia was forced to change its old flag (red with Vergina Sun), and to accept the provisional name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in order to appease Athens and thus become part of the UN. 

Thanks to this, the possibility of international isolation was eliminated and it had a stake in the international community.

NATO and European Union

North Macedonia's foreign relations since its independence have been characterized by the country's efforts to join international organizations, especially NATO and the European Union. 

In addition, its main interest has always been to obtain international recognition with its constitutional name, a dispute that was resolved in 2018 by the Treaty of Prespa, signed by North Macedonia, together with Greece, where the United Nations acted as mediator. It is thus definitively recognized as the Republic of North Macedonia. After being ratified by both parties, the agreement entered into force on February 12, 2019. 

On March 27, 2020, North Macedonia became the 30th member of NATO. 

Among other International Organizations, the Republic of North Macedonia belongs to the UN, World Trade Organization, FAO, IAEA, World Bank, IMF, OSCE, UPU, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Council of Europe and regional integration bodies, such as the Central European Initiative, the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI), the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe and the Adriatic Charter. 

Any country that respects the values of the European Union as set out in the Treaty on European Union and is committed to their promotion and implementation may apply for membership. The accession criteria for candidate countries are governed by the Copenhagen Commitment, which sets out the political, economic and social conditions that all candidates for EU membership must meet. Stability, respect for human rights, democratic system, economic capacity and the commitment to implement the necessary measures to fulfill the obligations of an EU member. In return the European Union offers prosperity, stability and greater weight in international affairs.

Macedonia was identified as a "Candidate Country" for EU membership during the European Council summit in Thessaloniki in 2003, along with other Western Balkan partners. 

In May 2019, the Commission recommended starting accession negotiations with North Macedonia. 

In March 2020, the General Affairs Council decided to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia, the decision was endorsed by the members of the European Council.

However, at the end of 2020 the situation changed as Bulgaria exercised a veto preventing Macedonia's inclusion to the European Union, because they accuse North Macedonia of "falsifying the history and culture of Bulgaria" and using "hate language against Bulgaria".

Relations with Bulgaria have traditionally been strained due to differing interpretations of their common history. Bulgaria assumes as its own the heroes of the Macedonian revolts against the Ottoman Empire that took place in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Dame Gruev, Goce Delchev, Jane Sandanski) and RMN considered them exclusively Macedonian.

Conclusion

More than two decades after proclaiming its independence, Macedonia faces the major challenges of a small state in a highly complex region. The difficulties caused by Greece's reluctance to recognize, at first, its legitimacy as a state and nation have led to the emergence of nationalist sentiments.

Not least, and as a fact to be taken into account, Macedonia poses the challenge of a multi-ethnic society, often unable to accept the multiple ethnic and cultural facets of the societies of the 21st century. Still, within this complicated process, one door to the EU remains open, as the European Parliament has rejected the decision of the Council of Europe, which urges it to seek a satisfactory solution to North Macedonia's demands and to start accession talks.