Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopts report on Greece, flags non‑recognition of Macedonians
PACE in Strasbourg adopted a report on Greece that records criticism over Athens' failure to recognise Macedonians as a minority.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg adopted a report on Greece that formally records concerns about Athens' refusal to recognise Macedonians as a minority group.
The decision came during a plenary session in Strasbourg. The report, as adopted by PACE, explicitly notes the complaints raised over the status of people who identify as Macedonians within Greece.
Diplomatic and regional effects
The adopted text is likely to add pressure on bilateral and multilateral discussions in the region, since minority recognition remains a sensitive topic between Greece and neighbouring countries. Observers say the report could be invoked in future diplomatic exchanges and European forums.
From Strasbourg, TV 24 correspondent Biljana Sekulovska reported on the assembly's vote and the passage of the report. The move follows earlier tensions in the region, including a recent summons of the acting Macedonian ambassador to Bulgaria to that country’s foreign ministry.
PACE adoption does not itself change national policy in Greece, but it codifies concerns at a European level and may prompt follow-up monitoring or recommendations by Council of Europe bodies.
Photo: press material from the event
