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The European Commission expects "all parties" in North Macedonia and Greece to respect the 2018 Prespa Agreement (under which Macedonia changed its name to North Macedonia) in "good faith," Euractiv reported on May 19. 

North Macedonia, Greece: EU Asks for Calm as Name Dispute Continues

Bulgaria

Albania

A summit of EU and Balkan leaders failed to reach a consensus over North Macedonia and Albania's EU membership bids after a June 22 no-confidence vote ousted Bulgaria's Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, AP reported June 23.

Bulgaria: Government Loses No-Confidence Vote, Stalling EU Enlargement to Western Balkans

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EU: Regional Blocs

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European Disintegration

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Bulgaria blocked EU accession talks with North Macedonia due to the two countries’ disputes over culture and history, arguing that Brussels cannot start such talks if the candidate country has unresolved issues with a member of the bloc, Balkan Insight reported Nov. 17. 

Europe: Bulgaria Blocks EU Accession Talks With North Macedonia

North Macedonian ruling coalition candidate Stevo Pendarovski has won the second round of the country's presidential election after receiving 51.7 percent of the vote, Deutsche Welle reported May 5. 

North Macedonia: Pro-Western Candidate Wins Presidential Election

Echoes of the Cold War

Representatives from all 29 NATO member countries have signed Macedonia's accession protocol to the alliance, Balkan Insight reported Feb. 6.

Macedonia: NATO Member States Sign Accession Protocol

The Greek parliament has voted to approve a controversial name agreement with Macedonia by a final vote tally of 153 to 146, Ekathimerini reported Jan. 25.

Greece: Parliament Approves Name Agreement with Macedonia

The Greek Parliament has started a debate on a name agreement with Macedonia ahead of an expected vote on the matter on Jan. 24, Ekathimerini reported Jan. 21.

Greece: Parliament Begins Discussions on Macedonia Name Agreement

Greece's government survived a no-confidence vote in the country's parliament on Jan. 16, winning by a narrow margin of 151 to 148 votes, Ekathimerini reported.

Greece: Government Survives No-Confidence Motion in Parliament

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The lobby of the headquarters for the U.S. Agency for International Development is seen on Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. 

Social Issues

Cuts to U.S.-funded humanitarian and development programs could worsen global health outcomes, destabilize security environments, accelerate democratic backsliding, and create opportunities for rival powers to expand their influence.

The Global Implications of Trump's Foreign Aid Cuts

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On Geopolitics

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An old map labels African countries and regions by their colonial names.

Shifting national identities have always led nations to adopt new names, and in this evolving multipolar world, modern states are no different.

National Identity and the Geopolitics of Choosing a Name

On Security

Croatia

Montenegro

Demonstrators in Belgrade, Serbia, hold up Serbian flags and a photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 24, 2022, during a rally in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

In the second part of this series, we explore China and Russia's interests in the Balkans and what their activities may mean for the region's long-term stability.

The Risk of Another Balkans War, Part 2: Russian and Chinese Influence

Slovenia

NATO soldiers patrol a roadblock set up by ethnic Serbs near Zubin Potok, a town in northern Kosovo, on Aug. 1, 2022. 

Despite ethnically-tinged tensions between Kosovo and Serbia that most recently made the news, there appear to be numerous restraints on a potential return to widespread regional conflict. 

The Risk of Another Balkans War, Part 1: Placing Recent Flashpoints in Context

An external view of the building of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium. 

The New Silk Road

As COVID-19 forces the EU to remain focused on recovering (and not enlarging) its economy, candidate countries such as Serbia risk veering away from the reforms they had been pursuing to earn their place in the bloc.

What the Fading Promise of EU Accession Means for the Balkans

Snapshots

Cyprus

The Fate of the Eurozone

After more than four years of left-wing leadership, Greece's government is now under the control of a conservative party. But the lingering effects of the long Greek economic crisis will dampen the incoming administration's pro-business ambitions.

Greece: A Tough Road Awaits Athens' New Conservative Government

While the ballot item won 91 percent of the vote, turnout fell short of the 50 percent needed for the referendum to be valid, jeopardizing the deal with Greece. 

Macedonia: Low Turnout Tanks Name-Change Referendum

In the Western Balkans, two trigger points have the potential to set off widespread unrest: negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo to normalize their relations and a deal between Macedonia and Greece for the former to change its name.

Negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo and a Macedonian effort to appease Greece both could provide a spark that ignites political instability and ethnic violence in the region.

Why Efforts to Build Bridges Could Threaten Peace in the Western Balkans

Detractors in both Greece and Macedonia have already vowed to oppose an agreement over the latter's official name. Now, however, a large foreign threat might scuttle the deal.

Macedonia, Greece: Russia Wades Into the Fray Over a Balkan Name Dispute

The European Commission has a strategy to offer EU membership to a half-dozen countries in the Western Balkans, but it won't happen anytime soon. 

EU: Brussels Promises Membership To Six Countries, Someday

Reflections

Greece believes that Macedonia isn't entitled to the name it's chosen, and the two countries have bickered over the matter for decades.

Macedonia: A Name Worth Fighting For

Global Perspectives

Contributor Perspectives

Many of the underlying problems plaguing the Balkans are still unsolved. 

Tensions are bubbling to the surface in the Balkans once again, perhaps to the region's peril. But will global leaders take notice and step up in time?  

As Crisis Brews in the Balkans, the West Looks On

SITUATION REPORTS

North Macedonia, Greece: EU Asks for Calm as Name Dispute Continues

Bulgaria: Government Loses No-Confidence Vote, Stalling EU Enlargement to Western Balkans

Europe: Bulgaria Blocks EU Accession Talks With North Macedonia

North Macedonia: Pro-Western Candidate Wins Presidential Election

Macedonia: NATO Member States Sign Accession Protocol

Greece: Parliament Approves Name Agreement with Macedonia

Greece: Parliament Begins Discussions on Macedonia Name Agreement

Greece: Government Survives No-Confidence Motion in Parliament

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