Explained: What’s behind North Macedonia’s long road to the European Union?

Context

The debate over joining the European Union caused violent protests in North Macedonia leaving dozens injured.

Probable Question

 As a reaction to the Ukraine Russia war, reshuffling and alliance formation has been observed in Europe. Discuss some of the issues faced by small Balkan countries.  

What is the dispute about?

• The EU’s efforts to bring Ukraine closer following the Russian invasion have gained the attention of the Western Balkan countries. 
• Balkan countries like North Macedonia, and Albania see joining the 27-nation bloc as a means of securing stability and prosperity.
• North Macedonia has been an EU candidate for 17 years, however Greece kept holding up North Macedonia’s EU and NATO membership bids for years. There was a veto by EU member Bulgaria as well.
• Greece was outraged due to the name chosen ‘Macedonia’ by North Macedonia, whereas Bulgaria accused the country of disrespecting shared cultural and historic ties.
• Bulgaria demands an acknowledgment that the language of North Macedonia is derived from Bulgarian and the recognition of a Bulgarian minority.
• To break the deadlock from joining the EU, France has put up a proposal for a compromise to address Bulgaria’s concerns, this led to rifts in both Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
• At present Bulgaria has accepted the French proposal, which now requires the backing of North Macedonia’s parliament.

About European Union (EU)

• It is a group of 27 countries that hold the same ideals: a peaceful, united, and prosperous Europe.
• It was formed to unite European countries and to end warfare among them by having a standardized system of laws.
• All EU countries are part of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but only 19 of 27 EU member countries constitute the Eurozone, as they have the euro (€) as the official currency and are officially called the euro area.
• Member countries:
  • Euro area countries – Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
  • Non-Euro area countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden.
• To hold the executive and legislative power of the Union, the EU has three political institutions – 
  • The Council of the European Union represents governments
  • The Parliament represents citizens
  • The Commission represents the European interest.
• The Council of the EU, under which government ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and coordinate policies.
• Major Aims:
  • Promoting peace, security, justice, and freedoms without internal borders and respecting fundamental rights.
  • Establish an internal market and an economic and monetary union whose currency is the euro.
  • Protect and improve the quality of the environment.
  • Promote scientific and technological progress.
  • Combat social exclusion and discrimination.
  • Promote social justice and protection.
  • Respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity.
• Motto: "United in diversity" was adopted as the European Union's motto in 2000.

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Joining EU

The country willing to join the EU has to go through a pre-accession period:

• They need to submit a membership application to the Council.
• Then the applicant country is supposed to meet the conditions for membership.
• These conditions are known as the ‘Copenhagen criteria’ that majorly includes –
  • A stable democracy and the rule of law
  • A functioning market economy
  • The acceptance of all EU legislation, including the euro.
  • Implementation of EU rules and regulations in all areas as national law.
• The candidates are supported financially, administratively, and technically by the EU.
• At present countries such as Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine are in the process of 'transposing' (or integrating) EU legislation into national law.
• Other potential candidate countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Kosovo do not yet fulfill the requirements for EU membership.

Way Forward

• The French proposal offers North Macedonia a chance to start membership talks with the EU.
• It is unfair of the proposal to ask a small nation to give up its language, history, and constitution-making powers to external powers.
• International order should be based on fairness and rationality. 
• The long-term, prosperous future of the nation and growth should be the first priority of any government.

Source: The Indian Express

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