North Macedonia

Bulgaria disrupts European Parliament’s bill on North Macedonia EU accession

Bulgarian politicians have pressured the European Parliament into delaying a report on European Union accession for North Macedonia, accusing a lawmaker in charge of the report of being too close…

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North Macedonia parliament approves a new nationalist-dominated government

North Macedonia's lawmakers on Sunday approved a new nationalist-dominated government of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, whose party won general elections in May banking on voters' anger at the slow pace…

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Right-wing opposition makes big gains in North Macedonia election

North Macedonia's right-wing opposition won big in parliamentary and presidential elections on Wednesday, on a night that saw the Balkan country also elect its first female head of state. Hundreds…

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North Macedonia votes in elections crucial for EU accession

North Macedonia will head to the polls on Wednesday in parliamentary and presidential elections in which the rightist opposition is expected to gain ground against a ruling party that has…

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EBRD backs 4 bln euro plan to wean North Macedonia off coal power

Deal set to be announced at COP28 climate talks in Dubai Would see country's two coal-fired power plants close EBRD would help fund 1.7 GW of renewable energy By Libby…

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Italy call late backup for feverish Vicario, injured Bastoni replaced

Defending champions Italy called up keeper Marco Carnesecchi as a precaution after Guglielmo Vicario experienced fever symptoms ahead of Friday's Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia, the federation said. Vicario,…

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EU to help Western Balkans reforms with 6 bln euro package – von der Leyen

SARAJEVO, Oct 30 (Reuters) - The European Union plans to help the countries of the Western Balkans to pursue reforms needed for integration with the wealthy bloc with 6 billion…

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Photo Story: Official launch ceremony of the FRONTEX Joint Operation in North Macedonia

Members of FRONTEX talk prior to the official launch ceremony of the FRONTEX Joint Operation in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 20 April 2023. It is planned that in 2023,…

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Photo story: Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in North Macedonia

Kristijan Nineski, 26-years-old Macedonian, catches the cross which was thrown in the Vardar river by the head of the Macedonian Orthodox church, Archbishop Stefan, during Epiphany day celebrations in Skopje,…

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Western Balkans leaders to sign deals on closer integration in Berlin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Western Balkans leaders are set to sign three agreements on mutual recognition of identity cards, university degrees and professional qualifications at a summit in Berlin on Thursday.…

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EU gives 80 mln euro to North Macedonia to tackle energy crisis

PRISTINA (Reuters) - The European Union pledged 80 million euros to North Macedonia to tackle energy crisis and it will help to build new generating capacities, European Commission President Ursula…

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Photo Story: Aftermath of storm that hit North Macedonia

Boys stands in the area affected by a landslide that hit the mountain village of Gjermo, west of Tetovo, Republic of North Macedonia. A big storm hit western part of…

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Albania, North Macedonia finally start EU membership talks

Albania and North Macedonia began membership talks with the European Union on Tuesday, overcoming a series of obstacles thrown up by EU governments despite an original promise to begin negotiations in mid-2018.…

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N. Macedonia votes to end dispute with Bulgaria, clears way for EU talks

SKOPJE (Reuters) -Lawmakers in North Macedonia on Saturday passed a French-brokered deal aimed at settling a dispute with Bulgaria and clearing the way to long-due European Union membership talks. With…

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Bulgarian parliament greenlights N Macedonia’s EU membership negotiation

Bulgaria's parliament gave the government the green light on Friday to approve a European Union membership negotiation framework for North Macedonia, in a move that may allow its northern neighbour…

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Russia’s Lavrov visit to Serbia denied as Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Montenegro refuse use of airspace

Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic on Monday morning met with Russian ambassador Aleksandr Botsan-Kharcenko, who informed him of the reasons that prevented Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov from arriving in Belgrade. "Ambassador…

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Photo Story: Stormy weather over Skopje

Thunder and lightning is seen and heard in the sky over the city of Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, during a storm on Saturday night. Photo: EPA-EFE/GEORGI LICOVSKI

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Centrist MEPs irked at objections to North Macedonia’s EU accession process

The European Council's persistent lack of consensus on launching accession discussions with North Macedonia has come under fire by centrist MEPs of the Renew political grouping. The MEPs lamented that…

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Photo Story: The Super Flower Blood Moon over Skopje

The Super Flower Blood Moon seen in the sky during the lunar eclipse over Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 16 May 2022. This eclipse has been given a lot of…

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Italy to miss World Cup after loosing to N Macedonia

Italy will miss out on a second successive World Cup after Aleksandar Trajkovski's stoppage-time strike gave North Macedonia a sensational 1-0 victory at Renzo Barbera. Having also failed to qualify…

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EU to keep talking with Bulgaria until enlargement spat solved, Borrell says

March 14 (Reuters) - The European Commission will continue talking to Bulgaria to get its approval for accepting North Macedonia into the bloc, the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell…

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North Macedonia’s economy seen recovering from recession -IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday that North Macedonia's economy, which grew by 4% in 2021 driven by domestic consumption, is seen recovering with estimated growth of about…

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North Macedonia President walks bullied girl with Down’s syndrome to school

The President of North Macedonia walked a girl with Down's syndrome to school after hearing she was being bullied. Stevo Pendarovski visited Embla Adema and her family on Monday in…

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Political crisis as North Macedonia’s prime minister resigns

North Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev resigned on Sunday after his party lost the second round of mayoral elections in several towns in the country, including the capital Skopje. "I…

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Fire in North Macedonian COVID-19 hospital kills at least 10

At least 10 people were killed when a fire broke out in a makeshift hospital for COVID-19 patients in the North Macedonian town of Tetovo, the country's health minister said.…

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Photo Story: Perseid meteor shower over Kuklice, North Macedonia

Two hundred stacked digital images of long exposures show Perseid meteors crossing the sky over the stone pillars in Kuklice, near the eastern city of Kratovo, Republic of North Macedonia.…

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EU helps Italy, Greece, Albania and North Macedonia to fight ‘devastating’ forest fires

As forest fires continue affecting various regions in the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans, the European Commission is swiftly mobilising support to assist countries in limiting the spread of the…

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Slovenia pushes for Albania and N. Macedonia EU membership

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union should let Albania and North Macedonia move ahead with membership talks by October before a special Balkans summit organised by Slovenia, which holds the EU presidency, its…

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Netherlands beat North Macedonia 3-0 to complete clean sweep in Group C

Georginio Wijnaldum scored a second-half double as the Netherlands defeated North Macedonia 3-0 to keep their perfect record on their way to the European Championship knockout stages on Monday. The…

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N.Macedonia’s Pandev set for international swansong against Netherlands

North Macedonia captain Goran Pandev will draw his international career to a close after their final Euro 2020 Group C match against the Netherlands on Monday, the 37-year old forward…

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Ukraine beat N Macedonia to end losing streak

Andriy Yarmolenko grabbed a goal and an assist as Ukraine beat North Macedonia 2-1 on Thursday to end a run of six consecutive losses at the European Championship and boost…

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Austria’s Arnautovic suspended for one game for goal celebration

Austria will be without forward Marko Arnautovic for Thursday's Euro 2020 Group C match against the Netherlands after he was handed a one-match ban by UEFA. An investigation was opened…

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UPDATE – UEFA to investigate Arnautovic’s goal celebration

UPDATE - UEFA has opened an investigation into Austria forward Marko Arnautovic's goal celebration in their opening match of the Euros against North Macedonia, European soccer's governing body said on…

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Germany stunned by North Macedonia in rare World Cup qualifier home defeat

Germany suffered their first home defeat in a World Cup qualifier in 20 years when they were stunned 2-1 by unheralded North Macedonia in Group J on Wednesday. Armenia are the surprise group leaders…

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Serbia donates thousands of doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to North Macedonia

Serbia donated 4,680 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to North Macedonia on Sunday, allowing its southern neighbour to begin inoculations ahead of schedule. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and North…

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Photo Story: Christmas mass in Skopje

An Orthodox believer prays during a Christmas mass in the central Orthodox Church of Saint Clement in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 07 January 2021. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Day…

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Photo Story: Orthodox Church prepares for the Christmas in Skopje

Orthodox believers buy traditional Christmas oak-tree branches, a symbol of the Orthodox Christmas Eve, at the green market in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. Orthodox Christians will celebrate the Christmas…

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Photo Story: Christmas light in Skopje

A man walks through the empty decorated street during heavy fog and air pollution that cover Skopje valley, in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. Heating season, fog, smog and pollution…

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Bulgaria to block EU accession talks with North Macedonia

Bulgaria plans to voice its opposition on Tuesday to starting European Union accession talks with neighbouring North Macedonia as the two countries have yet to settle disputes over history and…

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Thursday playoffs Final line-up for Euro2020

The 20 teams that qualified via the groups have been joined by the four play-off winners. An extraordinary late comeback took Hungary to their second successive EURO. After Gylfi Sigurdsson's…

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Bulgaria says North Macedonia must address historical issues or face delay on EU path

Bulgaria has threatened to block North Macedonia’s path towards European Union membership and said it should recognise that both its national identity and language have Bulgarian roots, its foreign minister…

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North Macedonia end Kosovo’s Euro dream, Serbia sink Norway as Scots and Northern Ireland also reach Euro playoff finals

Kosovo's Euro dream shattered by North Macedonia Kosovo’s dream of qualifying for Euro 2020, less than five years after being accepted into international football, ended with a 2-1 away defeat…

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Bulgaria asks EU to stop ‘fake’ Macedonian identity

A long-simmering historical dispute between two Balkan neighbors is about to enter the corridors of Brussels again as North Macedonia expects an official start to the EU accession negotiation process…

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North Macedonia’s coalition Government approved

North Macedonia's Social Democrats returned to power Sunday after parliament approved their new coalition, ending a months-long leadership void amid the pandemic. France24 reports that the vote brings Prime Minister…

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North Macedonia opens door for possible future Albanian PM

An Albanian might lead the Macedonian government after Zoran Zaev, but only for 100 days at the end of Zaev's next term, according to a new power-sharing deal in Skopje.…

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North Macedonia holds election

North Macedonia holds a parliamentary election on Wednesday that may decide the pace of the country's bid for European Union membership, with the governing pro-EU Social Democrats and the main…

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Photo Story: Early voting gets underway in North Macedonia

Workers put the ballot material in the distribution truck in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 13 July 2020. The Balkan nation conducts three days of early general elections voting in…

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North Macedonia ends state of Emergency

President Stevo Pendarovski on Friday said that despite an ongoing spike of COVID-19 infections, there was no “necessity” in prolonging the state of emergency that has been in place since…

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EU moves to start membership talks with Albania, North Macedonia

The European Union can start membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, according to a draft decision by the bloc's 27 member states seen by Reuters on Monday and due…

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CoVid19 Update – Another dark day for Europe

Thirty-two more people have died in England after testing positive for coronavirus - taking the total number of UK deaths to 104. It follows the biggest daily leap in confirmed cases…

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North Macedonia heads to early election in April

North Macedonia’s parliament dissolved itself on Sunday and set April 12 for an early election, eight months ahead of the end of the current term, in what is seen as…

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France may soon clear the way for EU membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia

French President Emmanuel Macron indicated Saturday that France may soon clear the way for the European Union to launch membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia, but made it clear…

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New accession methodology adopted by EC College of Commissioners

The College of the European Commission has adopted a proposal for a new methodology for the accession negotiations today. “The whole process needs to be more credible, more predictable, more…

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EU membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia should start in March -Merkel

Angela Merkel said on Monday she wants a deal on opening EU membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia in March, citing "geopolitical" necessity. "Anyone who looks at the map,…

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Merkel to push for Albania, North Macedonia EU accession talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she would push for a start to European Union accession talks for Albania and North Macedonia. "Above all, we want to reach an…

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Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev resigns

North Macedonia's prime minister, Zoran Zaev, handed in his resignation on Friday, with a caretaker Cabinet set to assume control in order to organize the country's elections, due to take…

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Malta, one of nine EU countries push back France’s drive to change EU enlargement process

Malta together with Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia have backed a counter-proposal to France's push aimed at changing the process for taking in new members, arguing…

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