US pressures Skopje over name deal with Athens
US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien hinted on Tuesday that Washington is exerting pressure on the new government of North Macedonia to respect the Prespa name agreement signed in 2018 with Greece.
Addressing a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the future of Europe, O’Brien noted, among other things, that the US is working “to ensure that the new government of North Macedonia respects the Prespa Agreement” with Greece. His remarks were made in response to a question from Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who conveyed the frustration confided in her by leaders of the Western Balkans (North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro) at the recent NATO Summit in Washington about the slow progress of their accession negotiations with the EU.
Referring to Skopje, O’Brien noted that North Macedonia has “suffered because of disagreements with its neighbors, which does change the [accession] requirements for it constantly.”
He said, “Part of our work diplomatically is to prepare a path so that [North Macedonia] maintains the agreement it has with Greece,” adding that Washington’s goal is to ensure that “Greece becomes a friend of North Macedonia’s path forward rather than a critic.”
“The same with Albania,” he added.
Asked what Washington can do to help these countries in their efforts to join the EU, O’Brien noted they must be encouraged to make painful reforms, and that political officials in these countries do not have big demands that will derail progress.
It also means proposing alternative paths, he said, noting that he is constantly working with governments to lead them to a common regional market, but also to the single market before joining the EU.
Athens has warned Skopje about its EU membership prospects after the country repeatedly breached parts of the name accord.
