North Macedonia declared independence following the political turmoil and conflicts that occurred in the early 1990s during the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. After gaining independence, the country made membership in the European Union and NATO among its strategic goals.
Independence referendum concludes with 95.3 percent vote
North Macedonia held an independence referendum on September 8, 1991. Of those who participated in the vote, 95.3 percent voted in favor of the country's independence.
Numerous countries, led by Türkiye, recognized the independence of Macedonia, as the country was then known. Kiro Gligorov became the country's first president.
Macedonia's own currency was put into circulation on April 26, 1992. The country's army was established in August of the same year.
Membership in the United Nations
Macedonia was admitted to the United Nations unanimously in a vote held by the UN General Assembly on April 8, 1993. Due to Greece's objection, the country was admitted to the UN under the provisional reference "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."
Name dispute resolved with the Prespa Agreement
Negotiations were held for years to resolve the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece. Following UN-mediated talks, the two countries signed the Prespa Agreement in June 2018.
The agreement provided for changing the country's name to "North Macedonia" and establishing a strategic partnership. In a referendum held in September 2018, 91.46 percent of participants voted to approve the agreement between Macedonia and Greece and maintain the goal of membership in the European Union and NATO.
Turnout in the referendum, which was boycotted by the opposition at the time, stood at 36.91 percent. Following the name change, North Macedonia became a NATO member in 2020.
European Union accession process
North Macedonia gained candidate-country status in 2005. The first intergovernmental conference for accession negotiations with the European Union was held on July 19, 2022.
The opening of negotiating chapters with the European Union is expected to begin after the constitutional amendments stemming from the bilateral protocol signed with Bulgaria are adopted. Under these amendments, Bulgarians must be included among the communities listed in the Constitution of North Macedonia.
The Assembly of North Macedonia consists of 120 seats. A two-thirds majority, or the support of 80 lawmakers, is required for a constitutional amendment.
Under the planned amendment, the communities of Bulgarian, Croatian, Montenegrin, Slovenian, Jewish and Egyptian origin are expected to be added to the wording in the Constitution that reads, "citizens of North Macedonia; Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish, Vlach, Serb, Roma, Bosniak."
