The country was recognised by the UN on 8 April 1993 with the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The name was intended to appease Greece’s reservations, fearing irredentist reprisals in the Greek region of the same name. Following the agreement on 17 June 2018, the official name of the country became the “Republic of North Macedonia”. Within the EU, its status as a candidate was recognized in 2005. On 27 March 2020, the country officially became a member of NATO.
In 2001, armed conflict broke out between ethnic Kosovar Albanian insurgents of the UCK and government forces, which ended with new constitutional guarantees being granted to the Albanian minority. On 17 December 2005, the EU Council accorded the country the status as a candidate for joining the EU. According to the Constitution of 17 November 1991, the President of the Republic is elected by direct suffrage for five years. The Assembly (between 120 and 140 members elected for four years) chooses the Prime Minister and the members of the government.

GDP shrank by 4.5% in 2020 due to the global economic slowdown. The economy is expected to grow by 3.8% in 2021. The main crops are cereals (wheat, barley and maize), sugar beet and tobacco, which is an important export commodity. The lignite reserves in Pelagonia guarantee the country a significant share of the energy mix. The extension of the Turkstream gas pipeline on the national territory and the construction of a new connection with Greece are being proposed. There are copper, lead and zinc reserves. Much of the heavy industry is obsolete (chemical and mechanical plants). In Skopje there is an oil refinery. Other important sectors are textiles, tobacco-processing, cement, paper and sugar. A tax-free industrial zone is active near Skopje (electronics and automotive components). Air connections between Skopje and Athens resumed.