France ratifies North Macedonia’s NATO Accession Protocol


France’s National Assembly ratified North Macedonia’s NATO Accession Protocol at a plenary session on Thursday.

The bill to approve the ratification of North Macedonia’s NATO accession protocol, presented by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, was on top of the agenda at Thursday’s plenary session. Following a debate attended by representatives from all political groups, France’s National Assembly gave the green light for North Macedonia’s NATO accession protocol. The debate at the National Assembly took place following the ratification of NATO’s protocol by the French Senate on October 17.

Only after all 29 NATO member states ratify North Macedonia’s NATO accession protocol, it will enter into force enabling the country to become the Alliance’s 30th member.

According to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, North Macedonia’s NATO accession would strengthen security in the region and the Alliance as a whole.

France would remain vigilant over key principles of the NATO enlargement process, which include assessment of candidate countries’ values and contribution to security in the Euro-Atlantic area.

Following France’s ratification, the country’s NATO’s protocol remains to be ratified by Spain.