Archaeological evidence shows that old European civilization flourished in North Macedonia between 7000 and 3500 BC. North Macedonia has a very extensive and ancient cultural heritage. Because of the great number of archaeological sites dating from the antique times, North Macedonia has every right to be called - a magical land of archaeology. North Macedonia also has a significant number of monasteries and churches that are masterpieces of the ancient constructors, icon painters, fresco painters and wood carvers. The Ottoman Empire has also left its marks on this territory with a great number of mosques, baths and market places. Here, in North Macedonia, there is a tradition of the preservation of Macedonian folklore, which is very rich and diverse and reflects the spirit and the way of life of the people of North Macedonia.[1]

From the beginning of the 6th century the Byzantine dominions were subject to frequent massive movements and attacks on the part of the trans-Danubian Slavs. From then onward the territory of North Macedonia was exposed to continual spoliation by the Slavs. A significant event in the history of Macedonia and the history of the Slavs in general took place in 863 when the distinguished Byzantine missionaries from Salonica, the brothers Sts. Cyril and Methodius and their disciples, set out for Moravia bearing with them the first books in a Slavonic language, written in the Glagolitic alphabet which they themselves had invented. It is of particular significance that this new form of writing was created on the basis of the phonetic principles of the Slavs in Macedonia (from the surroundings of Salonica) and that the first translations of the holy books were made into the language of the Macedonian Slavs. The process of Christianisation was completed in Macedonia as early as the course of the second half of the 9th century. The most significant ruler of the Mediaeval period was Samuil who was proclaimed Emperor in his capital of Prespa which was situated on the island of Achilleus in the lake of Prespa and was crowned by the Pope of Rome and thus his state was transformed into an empire and the church was elevated to the rank of an archbishopric.[2]

In the very beginning of 20^th Century, North Macedonian territory was part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which was renamed into Yugoslavia in 1929. The Yugoslav federation was re-established after the World War II, and in 1946, Macedonia was established as an autonomous Yugoslav republic, known as Socialist Republic of Macedonia.

In 1991, after the fall of former SFRJ, Republic of Macedonia becomes an independent country. The new Constitution was adopted on 17^th 1991 and the country goes through the period of transition to a democratic republic.

In April 2001, the country signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union, and in 2005 become a candidate country. According to Prespa Agreement and Constitutional changes made in 2018, the country changes its name to The Republic of North Macedonia. After more than a decade of receiving positive reports by the European Commission, in 24th March 2020 the EU reached political agreement to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia.

In 28th March 2020, North Macedonia became 30^th NATO Member State. North Macedonia officially completed its accession into NATO as its 30th ally on March 27 2022, following the ratification of the alliance’s accession protocol by all 29 member nations and the conclusion of formal ceremonies at the U.S. Department of State.

In 19th July 2022 on the Intergovernmental Conference with North Macedonia the EC is opening the accession negotiations to the European Union. The screening of the EU acquis starts as a the first step in the process. https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/speech-commissioner-oliver-varhelyi-19-july-2022-inaugural-meeting-screening-process-albania-and-2022-07-20_en

Factograph: https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-09/factograph_north_macedonia.pdf