The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s EU Office is organising a conference on Macedonia on Wednesday, 6 December from 12:00 to 13:00, at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Rue du Taciturne 38, in Brussels.

Keynote speaker: Mr. Zoran Zaev, Prime minister of the Republic of Macedonia. His speech will be followed by a public discussion with Tanja Fajon MEP and EEAS Political Director Jean-Christophe Belliard.

After the ‘colourful revolution’ in Macedonia which led to new elections, a new government came into power in May 2017. The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, in coalition with several ethnic Albanian parties, brought a breath of fresh air into the country, whose political landscape has become polarised in recent years. The new government has set a new course in domestic as well as foreign affairs. Initial signs of this are a friendship treaty with Bulgaria, as well as an initiative to resolve a long-running dispute with neighbouring Greece over the name ‘Macedonia’.

Prime Minister Zaev and his government have also revitalised Macedonian efforts to forge stronger links with Europe, including the drawing up of an ambitious plan to strengthen the rule of law and media freedoms. The new government is also pushing for a start date for negotiations with the EU.