Resolving the Greek-Macedonian name dispute

Since the dissolution of SFR Yugoslavia and the proclamation of Macedonian independence in 1992, the Greeks have disputed the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). In June 2018, the governments of Greece and agreed upon a new name for their Northern neighbour. The new name, Republic of North Macedonia, has been scheduled to be put into use as of January 2019 after ratification in both nations’ parliaments. The renaming of the landlocked Balkan republic resulted in the withdrawal of Greek veto for its accession to the European Union. Through this veto, the Greeks had forced FYROM to change their constitutional name if it had any ambitions of joining the EU as well as NATO. The so-called “Prespa agreement”, as well as the preceding referendum, has infuriated nationalists on both sides the border, both arguing that the other side with international support bullied their agenda through. Either way, the domestic affairs of a sovereign state was subject to outside interference.

In order to validate the renaming of the FYROM, the referendum of September 2018 asked for the voters’ support for EU and NATO membership by accepting the agreement with Greece. The result was overwhelmingly in favour, yet the turnout of eligible voters was sole 37 %. Thereby the referendum was invalid due to the constitution of FYROM. Analysts argue that the referendum was a victim of Russian interference, pointing to pro-Russian communities and false online accounts promoting nonparticipation.

The fact that FYROM was obliged to constitutional rename itself due to Greek pride should be a point of critic towards Greece as well as the EU. Exclusion from ascension in the EU because of a name dispute is to set up unnecessary obstacles for the spread of democracy, prosperity, and interdependence in the EU’s near sphere of influence.

For the future relationship between the two countries, nationalism must be disregarded for a North Macedonian accession to the EU to be successful. The fact that the countries along with the EU have finally reached an agreement on the matter presents an instance of the will for international cooperation eventually prevailing. Not the process, but rather the result should be praised since national stubbornness was diminished in the name of reconciliation, and rightfully the two prime ministers have been nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.

Sources:

Edward P. Joseph & Ognen Vangelov (2018) Breakthrough in the Balkans: Macedonia's New Name, Survival, 60:4, 37-44, DOI: 10.1080/00396338.2018.1495426

Aristotle Tziampiris (2012) The Macedonian name dispute and European Union accession, Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 12:1, 153-171, DOI: 10.1080/14683857.2012.661225

Fotis Mavromatidis (2010) The Role of the European Union in the Name Dispute between Greece and FYR Macedonia, Journal of Contemporary European Studies, 18:1, 47-62, DOI: 10.1080/14782801003638703