Question for written answer E-006762/2020 to the Commission Rule 138 Dominique Bilde (ID)
Subject: Relations between Greece and North Macedonia and the opening of accession negotiations
According to Euractiv, on 8 October 2020, an EU representative stated that the so-called ‘Prespa Agreement’ signed on 17 June 2018 by North Macedonia and Greece should be applied ‘in good faith’.1
This agreement ratified North Macedonia’s name change — it was previously referred to as ‘Macedonia’, which was a source of tension with Greece.
Still, Greece’s New Democracy political party was originally opposed to the agreement. Adonis Georgiadis, Greece’s Minister for Development and Investment, even went as far as to say that ‘the Government would change the Prespa Agreement on the issues of citizenship and language as soon as it is given the opportunity.’
Moreover, on the date of publication of the Euractiv article, three memorandums of understanding still had to be approved by the Greek Parliament.
On 7 October 2020, Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi announced that accession negotiations with North Macedonia could start before the end of the German Presidency of the Council.2 How can the Commission give such an assurance, given the uncertainties surrounding the Prespa Agreement, not to mention the dispute between Bulgaria and North Macedonia?
1 ‘“The Prespa agreement, together with the Treaty on Good Neighbourly Relations with Bulgaria, set a positive example for the region and beyond,” Ana Pisonero said. “It is important that these bilateral agreements continue to be implemented in good faith,” she emphasised.’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/commission-calls-for-good-faith-in-greece-bulgaria- deals-with-north-macedonia/ 2 ‘EU Enlarged Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi said on Tuesday (7 October) during a visit in Skopje that these talks could start even during Germany’s EU presidency, before the end of the year.’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/commission-calls-for-good-faith-in-greece-bulgaria- deals-with-north-macedonia/
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