Ahead of the historic referendum on the deal with Greece, Macedonians are increasingly optimistic about joining NATO and the EU, an opinion poll published on Wednesday shows.
A nationwide survey by the International Republican Institute, IRI, shows that Macedonia’s optimism and support for joining NATO and the EU has increased ahead of the September 30 referendum on the country’s “name” deal with Greece.
An absolute majority of respondents, 57 per cent, said that they favoured entering the EU and NATO under the country’s newly agreed name, Republic of North Macedonia.
The same proportion, 57 per cent, believe the benefits of EU accession also justify acceptance of the new name.
At the opposite end, 38 per cent of people replied negatively, while 5 per cent declined to answer.
“As Macedonia approaches this important referendum, support for a compromise solution on the name dispute that opens the door to EU and NATO membership indicates a strong preference for transatlantic institutions,” said IRI’s Acting Regional Director for Europe, Paul McCarthy.
Under the so-called “name” agreement with Greece, signed this summer, Macedonia agreed to change its name to Republic of North Macedonia, while Greece agreed to lift its long-standing veto on Macedonia’s NATO and EU integration.
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