[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 41 (Thursday, March 7, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 SENATE RESOLUTION 581--AFFIRMING THE SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR 
   THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA'S ACCESSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

  Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Ricketts, and Mr. Tillis) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 581

       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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