North Macedonia Anticipates EU Membership Progress in Autumn

North Macedonian officials expect a positive shift in the EU accession process after recent high‑level meetings in Brussels. Visits by European Council President Antonio Costa and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kost were accompanied by statements of support for the country's EU perspective and a call to return enlargement to strategic priority. While no concrete promises were made, the diplomatic tone was markedly more encouraging, and officials hope the end of September could mark a turning point as the European Commission prepares a policy review on candidate countries.

Political analysts also draw parallels between current governance in North Macedonia and the authoritarian regimes of the 1990s in post‑communist Europe, warning that unchecked control over institutions could threaten democratic development. These historical comparisons underline concerns that, despite EU‑friendly rhetoric, the country's political trajectory remains a point of scrutiny as it seeks membership.