Is North Macedonia pushed toward ‘Serbian world’ instead of pursuing EU integration?

The Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), led by Ali Ahmeti, has issued a sharp rebuke of the ruling VMRO-DPMNE government in North Macedonia, accusing it of fostering a growing political and cultural influence of the so-called “Serbian World” at the expense of the country’s sovereignty and its aspirations for European Union integration.

In a strongly worded statement, the DUI expressed deep concern over what it perceives as the government’s complicity in promoting Serbian nationalist narratives, which the party claims are eroding North Macedonia’s national identity and jeopardling regional tensions.

DUI, led by Ali Ahmeti, remains the preeminent ethnic Albanian political force in North Macedonia, commanding significant sway over the country’s multi-ethnic parliamentary dynamics despite its relegation to the opposition following the May 2024 elections. As the largest party representing the Albanian minority – which constitutes roughly 25% of the population – DUI secured 18 seats in the 120-seat Assembly in the 2024 parliamentary vote, tying for second place with the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and outperforming its rival Albanian bloc, VLEN, which took 14 seats.

According to the DUI, the VMRO-DPMNE administration, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Stoilković, has openly supported events organized by Belgrade that propagate historical narratives centered on “Old Serbia” and the glorification of “Serbian liberators.”

These events, the party argues, not only insult North Macedonia’s statehood but also undermine its cultural integrity.

Particularly alarming, the DUI notes, is the timing of these Serbian-sponsored celebrations, which have coincided with significant national holidays, including Independence Day. This overlap, the party contends, creates a disturbing spectacle of parallel “independences,” challenging the country’s unity and sovereignty.

The DUI highlighted specific actions that it believes exemplify this trend, such as the erection of a memorial plaque honoring Serbian voivode Vuk, a controversial historical figure, and the participation of Serbian paramilitary groups in these events.

The party accuses the government of legitimizing Serbian chauvinism through these acts while simultaneously obstructing Albanian efforts to establish their own cultural monuments, revealing a stark double standard. The DUI claims this selective tolerance is part of a broader, secretive agreement between the VMRO-DPMNE government and Serbia – an accord that has not been disclosed to the public or ratified by parliament, raising questions about transparency and accountability.

Further intensifying its critique, the DUI pointed to Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Stoilković as a central figure in this controversy. Describing him as a long-standing opponent of Macedonian independence since the early 1990s, the party accused Stoilković of using his position to advance the interests of the “Serbian World” in Skopje while employing anti-Albanian and anti-Bulgarian rhetoric.

The DUI argues that his actions not only deepen ethnic divisions but also jeopardize North Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory.

The party also criticized the government’s inconsistent foreign policy, noting that while it has been quick to condemn relations with Bulgaria, it has turned a blind eye to Serbia’s historical revisionism. This double standard, the DUI warns, poses a significant threat to both the country’s territorial integrity and its long-term goal of EU membership. T

he party emphasized that such actions risk derailing North Macedonia’s progress toward European integration, a cornerstone of its national agenda, while exacerbating interethnic tensions within the country.

In response to these developments, the DUI called for immediate transparency from the government, demanding the public disclosure of any agreements with Serbia and an end to the legitimization of Serbian nationalist activities in North Macedonia.

The party urged the VMRO-DPMNE leadership to refocus its efforts on what it described as the country’s “true priorities”: advancing EU integration and ensuring equality among all ethnic communities.

The DUI vowed to remain a steadfast defender of citizens’ interests and the nation’s Euro-Atlantic future, signalling its intent to hold the government accountable for any further actions that undermine these goals.

As North Macedonia navigates its complex path toward EU membership, the DUI’s accusations highlight the delicate balance between national identity, regional relations, and the pursuit of European integration, raising critical questions about the direction of the current government’s policies.

The European Commission has urged North Macedonia to fulfill the remaining requirements for advancing its EU membership bid, emphasising the importance of constitutional changes and adherence to bilateral agreements.

EU presses North Macedonia on constitutional amendments amid blocked accession process

Caption: People wearing protective face masks pass by a gold-painted monument of the late Yugoslav communist president Josip Broz Tito in front of a high school named after him in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 4 May 2020. North Macedonia is a rare place in former Yugoslavia where Tito is glorified. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI