Question for written answer E-003789/2021 to the Commission Rule 138 Dominique Bilde (ID)

Subject: Relations between Greece and North Macedonia and compliance with the Prespa Agreement, in particular in connection with the European Football Championship

On 12 June 2018, Greece and North Macedonia (then called Macedonia) signed, under the aegis of the United Nations, the so-called Prespa Agreement on the normalisation of their relations, which were stuck over the name ‘Macedonia’.

However, the implementation of that agreement has stalled on a number of issues, including ratification by the Greek Parliament of three memoranda12.

The Greek Minister for Development and Investment, Adonis Georgiadis, has apparently also alluded to changes in the agreement on nationality and language issues3.

North Macedonia not applying the agreement optimally: the Greek government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni highlighted a tweet by the North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev during the Euros, referring to ‘Macedonia’45.

The Commission has decided to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia, a precondition for which was the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Greece. What conclusions does the Commission draw from the difficulties with implementing the Prespa Agreement in the context of the enlargement process?

1 ‘Kathimerini reported that Athens is now deferring the parliamentary ratification – scheduled for July – to September and maybe later’. 2 https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/greece-mulls-freezing-three-memoranda-with-north- macedonia/ 3 ‘However, right-wing growth minister Adonis Georgiadis recently stated that the government would change the Prespa Agreement on the issues of citizenship and language as soon as it is given the opportunity’. ‘Commission calls for “good faith” in Greece-Bulgaria deals with North Macedonia’, by Sarantis Michalopoulos. 4 https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1163234/north-macedonia-must-respect-prespa-agreement-even-on-the- pitch-says-gov-t-spokeswoman/ 5 Attending Monday’s game between North Macedonia and the Netherlands, Zaev tweeted: ‘Today, from the stadium in Amsterdam, I offer my strong support to the Macedonian national football team’.

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