Govt 22 Aug launched public campaign ahead of 30 Sept referendum on implementing 17 June name deal with Greece, which unblocks Greek veto on Macedonia starting accession process to join NATO and EU in return for country changing name to Republic of North Macedonia. Polls published late Aug, carried out by International Republican Institute, showed 57% of respondents favour entering EU and NATO under new name, and general increase in support for EU and NATO membership since Aug 2017. Albanian President Meta called on Macedonian Albanians to vote for the agreement in the referendum.

Following June historic deal with Greece ending decades-long dispute over country name, govt started preparations for referendum on name deal. Parliament 25 July voted to appoint new electoral commission required to organise referendum; came after delay after opposition VMRO-DPMNE withheld its support, demanding provision guaranteeing formation of a technical govt 100 days ahead of any future elections. Parliament 30 July approved date for referendum as 30 Sept, in vote boycotted by VMRO-DPMNE. NATO 11 July invited Macedonia to start accession talks, to take place once name deal fully implemented. Macedonia 17 July started technical screening process to assess readiness for EU accession talks.

Macedonia and Greece 17 June signed historic agreement resolving 27-year-long dispute over official name of Macedonia, after Macedonian PM Zaev and Greek MP Tsipras 12 June announced they had reached agreement on name Republic of North Macedonia (Severna Makedonija); deal also stipulates language as Macedonian and citizens as Macedonian/citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia. Signing ceremony attended by UN envoy in name dispute Matthew Nimetz and EU foreign policy chief Mogherini. Agreement paves way for Macedonia to seek membership of NATO and EU, previously vetoed by Greece pending resolution of name issue. Parliament 20 June ratified deal by 69 out of 120 votes, in session boycotted by opposition VMRO-DPMNE; President Ivanov said he will not sign deal, meaning it will require another parliamentary vote, set for early July. Referendum on deal scheduled for Sept prior to constitutional amendment to formally change country’s name; Greek parliament to ratify deal thereafter. EU, NATO, UN and many countries congratulated sides on deal. Greece 25 June told EU and NATO it no longer objects to Macedonia’s accession under new name; EU foreign ministers 26 June gave conditional approval to opening accession negotiations with Macedonia (and Albania), starting in June 2019. Nationalist opposition to agreement continued in both countries; hundreds protested against agreement in Macedonian capital Skopje and in Bitola near border, with protests continuing in Skopje.

Efforts intensified to find agreement to long-standing name dispute, with Macedonian and Greek PMs discussing it on sidelines of EU-Western Balkans summit 17 May, and their FMs at UN-mediated talks in New York 24-25 May; UN mediator Matthew Nimetz said talks had “intensified considerably”. During meeting in Brussels 27 May, FMs reportedly agreed on “a framework that needs more work”. Macedonian PM Zaev 30 May said talks in delicate and final phase, and any final deal would be submitted to a referendum in Sept or Oct, after being ratified in parliament. Zaev gave ministerial posts to two small ethnic Albanian parties in proposed cabinet reshuffle 22 May, increasing his support in parliament by five MPs. Skopje court 23 May sentenced former PM Gruevski to two years jail for “receiving a reward” of illicitly purchased luxury Mercedes; Gruevski said he was being framed.

Greek and Macedonian foreign ministers met in Ohrid 12 April for another round of talks to resolve ongoing name dispute; Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov reported progress on some issues, differences on others; said they talked for first time about time frame and necessary steps “if a solution is reached and needs to be implemented”. Greek FM Nikos Kotzias said “fewer topics remain to be solved, however these are the hardest ones”. Dimitrov said that sides’ work groups came up with aligned draft document addressing issues including Greek fears of Macedonian irredentism toward northern Greek province Macedonia. FMs met again in Vienna 25 April with UN mediator in dispute Matthew Nimetz, who said “both sides are very dedicated to reaching a solution”. PM Zaev survived no-confidence vote in parliament 11 April by 62-40 votes. Opposition MPs ended four-month boycott of parliament in order to vote; parliament subsequently passed three bills required for progress on EU accession.

Macedonian and Greek foreign ministers met in Skopje 23 March to discuss solution to ongoing dispute over Macedonia’s name and reported making progress, days after govts exchanged proposals on name; met again in Vienna 30 March with UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, who reported “difficult issues” still need to be resolved but talks “moving in the right direction”. Estimated 10,000 people rallied in Skopje 4 March protesting against compromise on proposals to change name. Parliament 14 March passed law for a second time extending Albanian as official language across whole country, after President Ivanov vetoed bill passed in Jan. Opposition, which had tried to submit 34,000 amendments to bill and disrupt vote, said process was unconstitutional. Ivanov said he would again refuse to sign legislation, despite constitutional requirement to do so. Govt expelled Russian diplomat in solidarity with Britain over Skripal poisoning case, in which London claimed Russia was responsible for deploying deadly nerve agent against former Russian spy in the UK (denied by Russia), provoking angry response from Moscow.

Month saw further progress toward resolution of longstanding name-dispute with Greece, which would unblock path to launch of EU accession talks and NATO membership. Macedonia 6 Feb officially renamed main airport and highway, both previously named after Alexander the Great, in concession to Greece; PM Zaev same day said govt prepared to add geographical qualifier to name Macedonia; 19 Feb said he hopes dispute will be resolved by July NATO summit. Reported options under negotiation include: Republic of North Macedonia; Republic of Upper Macedonia; Republic of Vardar Macedonia; and Republic of Macedonia (Skopje). In late Feb media interview Zaev said he was hopeful of a settlement but said Greek demand for Macedonia to amend its constitution to show it had no claim on Greek territory was unreasonable. Nationalist elements in both countries continued to express opposition to compromise on name dispute: police in Greek capital Athens reported 140,000 people joined protest 4 Feb against use of name “Macedonia” by northern neighbour; in Skopje, several thousand protested against name change 27 Feb. European Commission President Juncker during late Feb visit praised progress on name dispute and pace of govt reforms. EU 6 Feb launched new enlargement strategy for Western Balkans, calling on countries to “urgently redouble their efforts, address vital reforms and complete their political, economic and social transformation”.

Month saw increasing momentum to resolve longstanding dispute with Greece over country’s name, which has held back Macedonia’s progress on joining NATO and EU. Greek and Macedonian FMs met in Thessaloniki 11 Jan, reportedly agreed to take more active part in UN-mediated efforts to resolve dispute. Negotiators met in New York 17 Jan; media reported several name suggestions put forward for negotiation; UN mediator Matthew Nimetz said proposals not new, but being proposed in new context. Estimated 90,000 Greeks protested in Thessaloniki 21 Jan rejecting any formulation including word “Macedonia”. Meeting on sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos 24 Jan – first direct meeting between PMs in seven years – Greek and Macedonian PMs agreed to intensify talks, announced mutual concessions intended to show good faith, including Macedonia renaming Alexander the Great airport and highway, and Greece to allow closer Macedonian cooperation with EU and regional initiatives; also said foreign ministers will take over negotiations. Greek PM Tsipras 27 Jan said he was ready to accept “composite name” including “Macedonia”. UN 29 Jan said talks had produced positive momentum. Nimetz visited Greek and Macedonian capitals 30 Jan-1 Feb to discuss effort to resolve dispute. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg made first visit to Macedonia 17 Jan, said NATO would invite Macedonia to join as soon as name dispute is resolved. Parliament 11 Jan passed Albanian language law extending Albanian as official language across whole country, honouring pledge by PM Zaev during agreement on coalition with Albanian parties. President Ivanov 17 Jan vetoed law, claiming it violates constitution, however it is expected to be adopted through parliament in second vote.

UN mediator Matthew Nimetz met with Macedonian and Greek negotiators in Brussels 11-12 Dec to resume talks over ongoing dispute over use of name of Macedonia; last talks were in Nov 2014. Nimetz 12 Dec said issue “can and should be resolved” in 2018, atmosphere at meetings “much better”. PM Zaev spent New Year’s Eve in unofficial capacity in northern Greek city Thessaloniki, seen by some as sign of growing rapprochement. During first ever visit by a Macedonian PM to Kosovo, PM Zaev agreed to push for international investigation into May 2015 Kumanovo shootout in which more than twenty people were killed, and for which several Kosovo citizens were convicted in Nov; Zaev said issue “should not be a barrier” between the two countries. Opposition VMRO-DPMNE party appointed new leader Hristijan Mickoski after former PM Nikola Gruevski resigned.

Parliament 15 Nov voted 66-41 in favour of bill extending official use of Albanian across country (rather than only in areas where ethnic Albanians constitute at least 20% of population) in its first reading; later in month postponed adoption of new law after EU reportedly called for it to focus on reforms required for membership talks. Skopje court 2 Nov convicted 33 ethnic Albanian men of plotting attacks and clashing with police, sentencing them to between twelve years and life jail terms over role in May 2015 shootout in Kumanovo in which eight security forces and fourteen suspected perpetrators were killed. Several of those convicted were Kosovo citizens, prompting protests in Pristina and elsewhere in Kosovo; Kosovo govt called for international investigation into incident and recalled its ambassador for consultations. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias 5 Nov told Kathimerini newspaper that name dispute with Macedonia “must be settled within the first half of 2018”; UN mediator in name dispute, Matthew Nimetz, said fresh round of talks scheduled for 11-12 Dec in Brussels. Former PM Grueski 28 Nov led protest against arrest of 36 people including MPs from his VMRO DPMNE party accused of role in April unrest in parliament.