III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 581 

Affirming the support of the United States for the Republic of North 

Macedonia’s accession to the European Union. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 7, 2024 

Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. RICKETTS, and Mr. TILLIS) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Affirming the support of the United States for the Republic 

of North Macedonia’s accession to the European Union. 

Whereas the Republic of North Macedonia peacefully asserted 

and achieved independent statehood in 1991, during the 

course of the former Yugoslavia’s violent disintegration, 

and has since become a secure, democratic, and prosperous country and a key United States ally and strategic partner in the Western Balkans; 

Whereas North Macedonia affirmed its commitment to joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 

1993, adopted major defense reforms, built a modern, 

professional defense force, and became the 30th NATO 

alliance member on March 27, 2020; 


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•SRES 581 IS 

Whereas, in 1993, the National Guard State Partnership 

Program was established between the State of Vermont 

and the Republic of North Macedonia; 

Whereas North Macedonia was the first Western Balkan 

country to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) and became an official EU candidate country in 2005; 

Whereas, in 2008, the United States signed a Declaration of 

Strategic Partnership and Cooperation with North Macedonia; 

Whereas, on June 17, 2018, the foreign ministers of the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Macedonia signed the 

Prespa Agreement, resolving a bilateral dispute that had 

hindered North Macedonia’s EU membership bid; 

Whereas, in March 2020, European Union member states endorsed opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia, and pursuant to a July 2022 protocol, North 

Macedonia committed to adopt certain constitutional 

changes in order to resolve an additional bilateral disagreement; 

Whereas, in June 2022, North Macedonia became the first 

Western Balkan country to start a strategic dialogue 

with the United States, marking a significant bilateral 

milestone and step toward implementation of the Declaration of Strategic Partnership; 

Whereas, in November 2023, the European Commission outlined a new growth plan to provide Western Balkans 

countries certain EU membership benefits ahead of accession, boost economic growth, and accelerate socio-economic convergence with the EU; 


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•SRES 581 IS 

Whereas North Macedonia remains an important European 

Union and United States security partner and NATO 

ally, providing Ukraine with humanitarian aid and considerable military equipment, voting in favor of United 

Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions against Russian aggression, and adopting all European Union Russian sanctions; 

Whereas, on November 29, 2023, United States Secretary of 

State Antony Blinken met with North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani and commended North Macedonia’s strong contributions and leadership as the 

Chair-in-Office to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and reaffirmed the United 

States would remain a steadfast partner and ally in support of North Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic path; 

Whereas, in November 2023, the European Commission 

adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package and assessed 

that North Macedonia has continued to fully align with 

the European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy; and 

Whereas the Government of North Macedonia has made significant progress in its work to join the European Union: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) appreciates North Macedonia’s active role in 

3 regional cooperation and long-standing commitment 

4 to the European Union accession process; 

5 (2) recognizes that there is strong support for 

6 EU membership across North Macedonia’s multi7 ethnic communities and that North Macedonia’s diVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:33 Mar 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR581.IS SR581

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•SRES 581 IS 

1 verse cultural heritage would be strengthened 

2 through EU membership; 

3 (3) encourages the Government of North Mac4 edonia to continue its important work toward mem5 bership in the European Union, as well as efforts to 

6 further peace, stability, and prosperity in Eastern 

7 Europe; 

8 (4) recognizes the cooperation between the 

9 State of Vermont and North Macedonia and the 

10 joint military partnership between the Vermont Na11 tional Guard and the Army of the Republic of North 

12 Macedonia; 

13 (5) recognizes the significant evidence of the 

14 benefits of North Macedonia’s membership to the 

15 North Atlantic Treaty Organization in closer eco16 nomic and political ties and in its commitment to 

17 foster regional stability and the principle of mutual 

18 defense; 

19 (6) recognizes the importance of European 

20 Union membership for North Macedonia for its eco21 nomic growth, strengthening of its democratic insti22 tutions and norms, and bolstering the rule of law in 

23 Southeast Europe; 


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•SRES 581 IS 

1 (7) encourages the Government of North Mac2 edonia to undertake the reforms necessary to ad3 vance their European Union membership; 

4 (8) calls on the President, the Secretary of 

5 State, and European allies to advocate for the open6 ing of the first European Union negotiation cluster 

7 with North Macedonia without further bilateral con8 ditions; 

9 (9) urges the President and the Secretary of 

10 State to continue to— 

11 (A) work closely with the Government of 

12 North Macedonia; and 

13 (B) support European Union enlargement 

14 for the Western Balkans, including North Mac15 edonia on its European Union path; and 

16 (10) affirms the desire of the United States 

17 Government and American people to strengthen the 

18 transatlantic partnership with the European Union 

19 and all member countries. 

Æ 


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