Macedonia

North Macedonia's Zaev back as PM after winning confidence vote

After two days of heated debate, lawmakers voted 62-51 in the 120-member assembly in favour of the new government led by Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev, 46. Seven members were absent.

North Macedonia's pro-EU SDSM take narrow lead in parliamentary vote

The ruling SDSM party won 36.9 percent of the votes while nationalist VMRO-DPMNE came second with 35.9 percent.

North Macedonia votes as EU talks loom

It is the Balkan country's first parliamentary election since it added "North" to its name early last year, ending a decades-old dispute with Greece.

North Macedonia imposes state of emergency ahead of election

The government said the eight-day state of emergency that came into force immediately will allow authorities to make the necessary preparations to ensure public health is protected during the campaign and voting amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Calls for free coronavirus vaccine grow as UK hosts summit

The event was a pledging conference for the vaccines alliance GAVI, which says the funds will be used to vaccinate about 300 million children in dozens of countries against diseases like malaria, pneumonia and HPV.

Turkey to open doors to 31 countries for health tourism

The patients and the attendants will go through Covid-19 PCR test or samples will be taken for the PCR test for a fee, when entering Turkey from the airports or border gates.

EU aims to reassure Balkans with virus aid, economic support

Delays in starting EU membership talks for Albania and North Macedonia, tensions between Serbia and Kosovo and a perception that the EU was slow to help its Balkan partners cope with Covid-19 fuel concern that they might turn toward Russia and China.

Turkey celebrates 68 years with NATO

Turkey's partnership with NATO has been immensely beneficial to NATO.

Is the EU’s new Balkan accession plan divorced from ground realities?

Addressing the future of the region, the EU has proposed a new methodology to move Balkan accession forwards, but local politicians are doubtful of its success.

Will the North Macedonia name deal be preserved?

Both hardliners in Greece and North Macedonia rejected a treaty that sought to end decades of tensions over the naming of the former Yugoslav Republic.

North Macedonia PM calls for snap election after EU snub

EU leaders failed to reach a consensus on whether to open membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia, amid stiff opposition to the move from France.

Anger over EU's 'historic mistake' to block Skopje, Tirana accession to EU

Eastern European states are angered by the EU's "mistake" as Macron leads blocking EU accession membership talks for Albania and North Macedonia.