Skopje, 30 June 2016 – The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* is caught in a prolonged political crisis. Short of a more active involvement by NATO and the European Union (EU), this situation carries with it a continued and serious risk of destabilisation, NATO legislators heard in meetings in Skopje earlier this week.

Popular protests marked the parliamentarians’ visit as thousands of people demonstrated their dissatisfaction with the pace of reform in the country in front of the Parliament. NATO lawmakers pressed their Macedonian counterparts to put in place a concerted effort to enact significant structural reforms, particularly when it comes to the rule of law, to rebuild unity in the fractured state.

Officials in Skopje in turn called on NATO and the EU to do more to show the membership option not only remains on the table, but lays ahead in the near future. They welcomed Montenegro’s upcoming accession to the Alliance, and contrasted this with Skopje’s succession of 17 annual cycles of the Membership Action Plan. Norwegian MP Sverre Myrli, who led the NATO PA delegation, while acknowledging Skopje’s frustration, stressed the importance of delivering on domestic reforms:
It is frustrating that the name issue remains a primary obstacle to bringing the country into NATO. Nevertheless, while seeking a solution to this problem, we will need to see a paralleled political will for reform in Skopje to expedite the process as well.Mr Myrli led a delegation of 15 parliamentarians representing 8 different NATO member states to Skopje, Thessaloniki, and Athens from 27-30 June.

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* Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.