Republic of North Macedonia

Political relations

France and North Macedonia enjoy a good, steady bilateral political relationship, with the June 2021 meeting between the President of the French Republic and the Macedonian Prime Minister providing further positive momentum. 
France played a key role in the 2001 crisis by helping negotiate the Ohrid Framework Agreement, which brought an end to the inter-community clashes (between Slavic Macedonians and Albanians), with two Special Representatives of the European Union, Mr François Léotard and then Mr Alain Le Roy.

France supports the European prospects of North Macedonia and publicly supported the implementation of the Prespa Agreement on several occasions in 2018 and 2019, including via a video message from the President of the French Republic on 22 September 2018. During Zoran Zaev’s visit in June 2021, the President of the French Republic reiterated the “historic” nature of the agreement and the “great political courage” which had been necessary to achieve it.

On 15 and 16 November 2022, the Minister of State for Europe, Laurence Boone, travelled to Albania and North Macedonia, where she met Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski and President Stevo Pendarovski.

Economic relations

Although modest, bilateral economic relations between France and North Macedonia are progressing. Since 2012, trade between France and North Macedonia has grown steadily, with a trade surplus for France. Trade does, however, remain limited (€190.5 million in 2019, €168 million in 2020, but over €200 million in 2021). France accounts for less than 2% of North Macedonia’s imports, compared to 15.4% for the UK and 10.7% for Germany. French exports to North Macedonia were €88.3 million in 2021 and French imports stood at €122.6 million.

There are prospects for major contracts for which companies have positioned themselves: a waste water treatment plant, renewing ID documents, building a hospital in Skopje, projects linked to sustainable development and infrastructure. The AFD is reviewing the conditions of its work in North Macedonia.