Political endorsement of name change agreement between FYR Macedonia and Greece

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Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2018-2019
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Summary:

Reports and analysis of the formal endorsement by national institutions in Greece and FYR Macedonia of the agreement between the countries on changing the latter's formal designation to North Macedonia (Severna Makedonija) - the so-called Prespes (or Prespa) Agreement.

Further information:

The formal procedures started following a referendum held in FYR Macedonia on the name change. Due to low voter turnout, its favourable outcome was not formally binding. Nonetheless, the country's Parliament went ahead with the required constitutional changes which would formally alter the name. This was a lengthy and difficult process, requiring several rounds of voting and a majority of two-thirds in the chamber. The first round ocurred on 19 October and the final round on 11 January, successfully endorsing the name change. As members of Parliament voted in the last round, protesters outside denounced what they called an act of treason. The adoption of the deal was welcome by several international stakeholders.

Following the formal adoption of the agreement by Macedonian lawmakers, the Greek Parliament was also called to formally ratify the text. The government's coalition did not survive the vote, due to a lack of agreement between the Prime Minister's left-wing SYRIZA Party and the nationalist ANEL Party, the junior political force in the cabinet. A vote of confidence on the government was called as a result and eventually won by the government on 16 January.

Ahead of the parliamentary vote on the ratification of the document, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Athens to protest against the agreement. The protests eventually turned into violence. On 25 January, the Greek Parliament ratified the agreement. This was followed by protests across the country, but also welcome by several international stakeholders.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Euro|topics, October 2018: Parliament in Skopje clears way for name change https://www.eurotopics.net/en/208598/
Euronews, 11.01.19: FYR Macedonia Greece and FYR Macedonia name dispute: the controversial feud explained https://www.euronews.com/2019/01/11/explained-the-controversial-name-dispute-between-greece-and-fyr-macedonia
Politico, 12.01.19: Macedonia’s historic name change leaves deep scars https://www.politico.eu/article/macedonias-historic-name-change-leaves-deep-scars/
openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 10.01.19: The Macedonian question and Greece’s national solitude https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/dimitris-christopoulos/macedonian-question-and-greece-s-national-solitude
Kathimerini, 12.01.19: Product with an expiry date http://www.ekathimerini.com/236545/opinion/ekathimerini/comment/product-with-an-expiry-date
LSE: EUROPP Blog, 22.10.18: Symbolic identities: Understanding the Macedonia name dispute and its implications for EU politics http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2018/10/22/symbolic-identities-understanding-the-macedonia-name-dispute-and-its-implications-for-eu-politics/
Euro|topics, January 2019: Macedonia row triggers government crisis in Athens https://www.eurotopics.net/en/212958/
Euro|topics, January 2019: Macedonia dispute polarises Greece https://www.eurotopics.net/en/213194/
The Economist, 17.01.19: Macedonia gets a new name and a new start https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/01/19/macedonia-gets-a-new-name-and-a-new-start
BBC News, 25.01.19: Macedonia and Greece: How they solved a 27-year name row https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46971182
Euronews, 28.01.19: North Macedonia might have a name but does it have a national identity? https://www.euronews.com/2019/01/27/north-macedonia-might-be-born-but-does-it-have-a-national-identity
Foreign Policy, 25.01.19: Alexis Tsipras Is Smarter Than You Think https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/01/25/alexis-tsipras-is-smarter-than-he-looks/

News
EurActiv, 20.10.18: Macedonian parliament approves country’s name change https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/macedonian-parliament-approves-countrys-name-change/
Politico, 20.10.18: EU, NATO urge quick Macedonia name change after parliament vote https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-nato-urge-quick-macedonia-name-change-after-parliament-vote/
BBC News, 20.10.18: Macedonia parliament votes to start name change process https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45922955
Deutsche Welle, 19.10.18: Macedonian lawmakers back North Macedonia name change https://p.dw.com/p/36rZ6
EurActiv, 03.12.18: Macedonia moves closer towards name change https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/macedonia-moves-closer-towards-name-change/
EurActiv, 05.12.18: Mitsotakis calls on Greek parties to reject Macedonia name change deal https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/mitsotakis-calls-on-greek-parties-to-reject-macedonia-name-change-deal/
EurActiv, 09.01.19: Pressure builds in Macedonia ahead of name change votes in Parliament https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/pressure-builds-in-macedonia-ahead-of-name-change-votes-in-parliament/
Politico, 11.01.19: Macedonia’s parliament backs name change https://www.politico.eu/article/macedonia-parliament-backs-name-change-zoran-zaev/
Kathimerini, 11.01.19: FYROM parliament agrees to change country’s name http://www.ekathimerini.com/236519/article/ekathimerini/news/fyrom-parliament-agrees-to-change-countrys-name
Deutsche Welle, 11.01.19: Macedonian lawmakers vote to rename country North Macedonia, change constitution https://p.dw.com/p/3BQVr
Euronews, 11.01.19: FYR Macedonia Greece-FYR Macedonia dispute: MPs back historic name change to Republic of North Macedonia https://www.euronews.com/2019/01/11/mps-in-fyr-macedonia-vote-to-change-country-s-name-to-republic-of-north-macedonia
Balkan Insight, 11.01.19: Macedonia MPs Pass Amendments to Change Country’s Name http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-parliament-backs-first-of-four-name-amendments-01-11-2019
Reuters, 13.01.19: Greece's Tsipras calls confidence vote after ally quits coalition https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1P709G
The Guardian, 13.01.19: Greek government in crisis over Macedonia name deal https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/13/greek-defence-minister-quits-over-macedonia-name-deal-panos-kammenos
Politico, 13.01.19: Greek government coalition implodes over Macedonia name deal https://www.politico.eu/article/macedonia-greece-government-implodes-over-name-deal/
Politico, 16.01.19: Greek PM Tsipras wins vote of confidence https://www.politico.eu/article/greek-pm-alexis-tsipras-wins-vote-of-confidence-macedonia-name/
The Guardian, 16.01.19: Greek PM wins confidence vote after Macedonia name crisis https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/16/greek-pm-wins-confidence-vote-after-macedonia-name-crisis
Kathimerini, 16.01.19: Tsipras wins confidence vote with 151 majority, paving way for Prespes deal http://www.ekathimerini.com/236704/article/ekathimerini/news/tsipras-wins-confidence-vote-with-151-majority-paving-way-for-prespes-deal
EurActiv, 17.01.19: Tsipras wins confidence vote, eyes Prespa agreement ratification https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/tsipras-wins-confidence-vote-eyes-prespa-agreement-ratification/
Reuters, 20.01.19: Police fire tear gas as Greeks protest against Macedonia name deal https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1PE0L6
TIME, 21.01.19: Clashes Erupt in Greece as Protesters Demonstrate Against Macedonia Name Change http://time.com/5508389/greece-clashes-protests-macedonia-deal/
Deutsche Welle, 20.01.19: Greek police and protesters clash at rally over Macedonia name deal https://p.dw.com/p/3Bs57
Kathimerini, 20.01.19: Prespes rally organizers expect 600,000 to turn up http://www.ekathimerini.com/236775/article/ekathimerini/news/prespes-rally-organizers-expect-600000-to-turn-up
BBC News, 20.01.19: Macedonia and Greece: Clashes in Athens over neighbour's name change https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46938371
The Guardian, 25.01.19: Angry Greeks take to the streets over deal to rename Macedonia https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/25/angry-greeks-take-to-the-streets-over-deal-to-rename-macedonia
The Economist, 25.01.19: The Greek parliament votes to end the Macedonian dispute https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/01/25/the-greek-parliament-votes-to-end-the-macedonian-dispute
Kathimerini, 25.01.19: EU hails Greek approval of Prespes name deal http://www.ekathimerini.com/237006/article/ekathimerini/news/eu-hails-greek-approval-of-prespes-name-deal
The Guardian, 25.01.19: Greek MPs ratify Macedonia name change in historic vote https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/25/greek-mps-ratify-macedonia-name-change-historic-vote
Politico, 25.01.19: Greece backs Macedonia name change https://www.politico.eu/article/greece-backs-north-macedonia-name-change-zoran-zaev-alexis-tsipras/

Official
EU: EEAS: Joint statement by President Jean-Claude Juncker, High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn on the adoption of the Prespa agreement by the Hellenic Parliament https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/57172/

ESO Records
Greek and Macedonian governments sign agreement settling name dispute, June 2018 https://www.europeansources.info/record/greek-and-macedonian-governments-sign-agreement-settling-name-dispute/

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