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North Macedonia

The day you become an EU citizen

When the accession treaty takes effect, every citizen becomes an EU citizen automatically. No application, no queue. That day is not set yet. This page tracks how close it is, using primary sources.

Data verified as of 15 Jun 2026

Estimated EU citizenship

~October 2037

 

A live estimate for the base scenario. It changes as milestones land or slip.

Just achieved · 7 Dec 2023

Screening of EU law completed

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The 10 steps to membership

Currently on step 6 — negotiating the EU's rulebook, cluster by cluster. Open any step for the detail and its source.

  1. Application

    Done
    22 Mar 2004

    North Macedonia formally applied to join the European Union.

    Primary sourceEuropean Commission (DG NEAR)View source

  2. Candidate status

    Done
    16 Dec 2005

    The European Council granted North Macedonia candidate-country status. Negotiations did not open for another 17 years.

    Primary sourceEuropean Commission (DG NEAR)View source

  3. Council agrees to open negotiations

    Done
    26 Mar 2020

  4. Negotiating framework + first Intergovernmental Conference

    Done
    19 Jul 2022

    The first Intergovernmental Conference launched negotiations — though no cluster has opened since, pending the constitutional amendment.

    Primary sourceEuropean Commission (DG NEAR)View source

  5. Screening of the acquis

    Done
    7 Dec 2023

    Bilateral screening for all six clusters concluded, but cluster opening remains blocked by the constitutional condition.

    Primary sourceEuropean Commission (DG NEAR)View source

  1. Cluster-by-cluster negotiations

    In progress
    19 Jul 2022

    Negotiations are formally open but fully blocked: no cluster has opened. Opening Cluster 1 "Fundamentals" requires a constitutional amendment (demanded by Bulgaria, written into the 2022 framework) that needs a two-thirds parliamentary majority the current government opposes.

    Primary sourceEuropean Commission (DG NEAR)View source

  2. All chapters provisionally closed

    Not started

  3. Accession Treaty signed

    Not started

  4. Ratification by all 27 + European Parliament + candidate

    Not started

  5. Entry into force → membership

    Not started

The 6 clusters

Negotiations →

When will membership actually come?

The forecast separates finishing the negotiations from actually joining — the two are not the same date.

See the forecast →