Macedonia, located in the Balkan region of Southeastern Europe.

North Macedonia, a small Balkan nation with a population of 1.8 million, has been navigating a complex political and economic landscape in recent years.

In 2024, the country's youth unemployment remains a significant issue, standing at 30.3%. This high unemployment rate, however, has decreased from the 2005 peak of 40.5%, according to official statistics.

The official unemployment rate has also decreased, reaching 11.7% in the first quarter of 2025. Yet, it remains high compared to other European countries. This could be due to the outflow of many working-age and well-educated individuals seeking opportunities abroad, a trend that poses a significant threat to the country's future development.

The new government under Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, who took office in 2023, has declared EU accession a priority and announced an ambitious reform agenda. The government's focus is on tackling corruption, promoting judicial independence, enhancing public administration, and championing media freedom.

The path to EU membership, however, has not been smooth. The dispute with neighbouring Bulgaria, which has been ongoing since 2021, has stalled the EU accession process. The disagreement centres around issues of linguistic identity and history, making it a sensitive and challenging issue to resolve.

North Macedonia's journey towards EU membership took a significant step forward in 2020 when it gained accession to NATO. This move was a testament to the country's commitment to regional stability and its Western orientation.

The country's history is marked by periods of ethnic tension, particularly between the Slavo-Macedonian majority and the Albanian minority, which makes up around 24.3% of the population. The conflict escalated in the second half of the 1990s, leading to civil war-like clashes. However, the fighting ended with the Ohrid Framework Agreement in August 2001, which established a power-sharing system and made Albanian the second official language.

The agreement also required laws affecting the Albanian community to be accepted by at least 50% of Albanian deputies. This provision was enshrined in the constitution and national laws, ensuring a degree of representation for the Albanian minority in the decision-making process.

In 2019, a law came into force that made Albanian the second official language, further strengthening the rights of the Albanian minority.

The transition and peace process initiated by the Ohrid Agreement was considered a success story for many years. Decentralization of state administration, redrawing of municipal boundaries and electoral districts, and strengthening local self-government are now enshrined in the constitution and national laws.

North Macedonia gained independence in 1991 without resorting to armed violence, a testament to the country's peaceful nature.

In 2024, over 20% of the population was affected by poverty, highlighting the need for economic reforms to address this issue. The population has also seen a decrease of approximately 11% from 2011 to 2025, with around 4,000 deaths due to the high excess mortality during the COVID-19 epidemic.

The first government conference with the EU Commission to prepare for EU accession negotiations took place in July 2022, marking a new chapter in North Macedonia's journey towards EU membership. The new government, under Prime Minister Mickoski, is optimistic about the country's future and has declared continued support for Ukraine amid Russia's war.

In the aftermath of the 2024 parliamentary and presidential elections, the most important politicians in North Macedonia's government include Prime Minister Mickoski, who leads the government with a pro-European agenda. His focus on EU accession, anti-corruption, judicial independence, public administration reform, and media freedom is expected to shape the country's future trajectory.