MACEDONIAN
Membership status
Candidate country
Background
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – along with other Western Balkans countries – was identified as a potential candidate for EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council summit in 2003.
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia applied for EU membership in March 2004. The Commission issued a favourable opinion in November 2005, and the Council decided in December 2005 to grant the country candidate status. In October 2009, the Commission recommended that accession negotiations be opened.
Chronology of bilateral relations
1996
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia becomes eligible for funding under the EU Phare programme.
1997
Regional Approach. The EU Council of Ministers establishes political and economic conditionality for the development of bilateral relations.
January 1998
Co-operation agreement and Agreement in the field of Transport enter into force.
Opening of the Office of the Resident Envoy in Skopje.
1999
The EU proposes a new Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) for five countries of southeastern Europe. On 16 June 1999, the conclusion of a feasibility study to open negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is positive.
24 January 2000
The Council adopts negotiating directives for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
March 2000
Upgrading of the EC Representation in Skopje to a permanent Delegation of the European Commission.
Start of negotiations between the EU and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
June 2000
The European Council meeting at Santa Maria de Feira (Portugal) confirms that its objective remains the fullest possible integration of the countries of the region into the political and economic mainstream of Europe, and affirms that "all the countries concerned are potential candidates for EU membership".
9 April 2001
Following the successful conclusion of the negotiations at the Zagreb Summit of 24 November 2000, a Stabilisation and Association Agreement is signed in Luxembourg.
An Interim Agreement is also signed on the same day; with the IA the Parties allow trade and trade-related matters of the SAA to enter into force.
1 June 2001
Under the Co-operation Agreement, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia benefits from asymmetric trade preferences with the EU.
28 June 2001
Arrival of EU’s Special Representative François Leotard
September 2001
Launch of EU’s Emergency Assistance Programme managed by the European Agency for Reconstruction, Operational Centre Skopje
29 October 2001
Arrival of the new EU’s Special Representative Alain Le Roy
12 March 2002
Donors’ Meeting for fYR Macedonia in Brussels
04 April 2002
First Annual Report on the Stabilisation and Association process by the European Commission
21 – 22 June 2002
At the Seville Conference the European Council expressed the willingness of the EU to take over from NATO in fYR Macedonia.
09 October 2002
The new Head of Delegation, Donato Chiarini, presents his credentials to the President of fYR Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski.
1 November 2002
Arrival of the new EU’s Special Representative Alexis Brouhns
30 April 2003
The Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Commission (ECHO) is ending its activities in fYR Macedonia after almost 10 years.
26 March 2003
Second Annual Report on the Stabilisation and Association process by the European Commission
31 March 2003
EU takes over the international military presence in fYR Macedonia from NATO
June 2003
Thessaloniki Summit is considered to be a historic one as for the first time in the history of the European Union, a mini-summit called ‘EU – Western Balkans Summit’ was held in the framework of the summit. In this way the European Union is sending a positive political signal for the future European perspective of the Western Balkans.
1 February 2004
Arrival of the new EU’s Special Representative, Mr. Soren Jessen-Petersen
30 March 2004
The European Commission has approved the first ever European Partnerships for the Western Balkans which are inspired by the Accession Partnerships that have helped prepare countries for eventual membership in the past. The partnerships are based on the third Annual Reports on these countries, also published on 30 March.
1 April 2004
The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the European Union and fYR Macedonia, signed on 9 April 2001, enters into force on 1 April, taking the country another step forward on the road to European integration. This is the first Stabilisation and Association Agreement to enter into force.
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1 May 2004
The historical Enlargement of the European Union on 1 May expanded the European family of states to 25, and the Union population by 20% to 450 million. This event created the biggest single market in the world.
3 June 2004
The Stabilisation and Association Committee between fYR Macedonia and the EC, established after the Stabilisation and Association Agreement entered into force, held its first meeting in Skopje on 3 June 2004.
01 September 2004
Arrival of the new EU's Special Representative, Mr Michael Sahlin.
14 September 2004
The Stabilisation and Association Council between fYR Macedonia and the EC, established after the Stabilisation and Association Agreement entered into force, held its first meeting in Brussels on 14 September 2004.
1 October 2004
The President of the European Commission, Mr Romano Prodi, paid an official visit to Skopje on 1 October in order to hand over the Commission's Questionnaire to the Government necessary for the Commission to prepare an Opinion on the country's membership application.
26 November 2004
The new Commissioner for Enlargement, Dr Olli Rehn, (now covering also the countries of the Western Balkans) pays his first official visit to Skopje.
1 November 2005
Erwan Fouéré appointed for new EU Special Representative and Head of the EC Delegation.
9 November 2005
The European Commission issued the Opinion on the application of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for membership in the European Union. The Opinion recommends granting candidate status for membership in the EU.
16 December 2005
The European Council decided to recognize the country as a candidate for EU membership.
30 January 2006
The Council adopts the European Partnership
14 February 2006
The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso paid his first official visit to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, accompanied by the Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn.
1 January 2007
Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU
30 October 2007
IPA Framework agreement and Financing agreement for 2007 IPA national programme signed
1 January 2008
Visa facilitation agreement and Readmission Agreement with the EU enters into force
18 February 2008
Council adopts the Accession Partnership for the country, thus updating the previous European Partnership of January 2006
February 2008
Visa liberalisation dialogue is launched
March 2008
European Commission adopts a Communication on the Western Balkans which indicates benchmarks for moving to the next stage in the accession process
May 2008
European Commission presents a roadmap setting out a number of benchmarks for visa liberalisation with the country
15 July 2009
European Commission proposes to grant the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia visa liberalisation
14 October 2009
EC recommended opening negotiations for country’s accession to the European Union
1 December 2009
The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force
1 December 2009
The Delegation of European Commission to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia renamed in the Delegation of European Union to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
1 December 2009
The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force
19 December 2009
The Visa free travel for citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia to the Schengen area
1 March 2011
Peter Sørensen appointed for new Head of the Delegation of the European Union.
1 March 2012
Aivo Orav appointed for new Head of the Delegation of the European Union.
1 July 2013
Croatia joined the EU