[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 581 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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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;
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;
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 Co-operation 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
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) appreciates North Macedonia's active role in regional
cooperation and long-standing commitment to the European Union
accession process;
(2) recognizes that there is strong support for EU
membership across North Macedonia's multiethnic communities and
that North Macedonia's diverse cultural heritage would be
strengthened through EU membership;
(3) encourages the Government of North Macedonia to
continue its important work toward membership in the European
Union, as well as efforts to further peace, stability, and
prosperity in Eastern Europe;
(4) recognizes the cooperation between the State of Vermont
and North Macedonia and the joint military partnership between
the Vermont National Guard and the Army of the Republic of
North Macedonia;
(5) recognizes the significant evidence of the benefits of
North Macedonia's membership to the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization in closer economic and political ties and in its
commitment to foster regional stability and the principle of
mutual defense;
(6) recognizes the importance of European Union membership
for North Macedonia for its economic growth, strengthening of
its democratic institutions and norms, and bolstering the rule
of law in Southeast Europe;
(7) encourages the Government of North Macedonia to
undertake the reforms necessary to advance their European Union
membership;
(8) calls on the President, the Secretary of State, and
European allies to advocate for the opening of the first
European Union negotiation cluster with North Macedonia without
further bilateral conditions;
(9) urges the President and the Secretary of State to
continue to--
(A) work closely with the Government of North
Macedonia; and
(B) support European Union enlargement for the
Western Balkans, including North Macedonia on its
European Union path; and
(10) affirms the desire of the United States Government and
American people to strengthen the transatlantic partnership
with the European Union and all member countries.
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