EU report: North Macedonia, other Western Balkan countries ‘hard it’ by Russian and Chinese influence campaigns, coercive policies - implemented by Serbia and Hungary
The European Parliament rapporteur for North Macedonia, Thomas Waitz, expresses concerns about Serbian and Hungarian influence that attempt to strengthen the geopolitical interests of Russia and China. This, according to the MEP, is done through disinformation campaigns, hybrid threats, corruption, opaques financial flows and coercive investment practices.
TLDR:
- North Macedonia and other EU accession countries in the Western Balkans are being particularly hard hit by foreign interference and disinformation campaigns, … in this context, the risk of dependence [of North Macedonia] on China caused by asymmetrical loan agreements, as well as the recent loan from Hungary, which appears to be sourced from China.
- The report welcomes North Macedonia’s steady progress in assuring media freedom, recalls, however, the need for continued reforms to ensure an independent and resilient media landscape [and] emphasises the urgent need to counter malign foreign influence in the media landscape, including disinformation disseminated by actors linked to Russia and China
- North Macedonia remains a target of foreign malign influence operations, including efforts to fracture the country’s social fabric and weaponise anti-EU sentiment, notably via Serbian-language tabloids and media outlets, which function as regional amplifiers of Kremlin narratives and enjoy considerable influence, whereas North Macedonia expelled 13 Russian diplomats between 2018 and 2023 for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, suggesting an ongoing presence of covert influence networks.
- China has sought to expand its influence through information control, investment diplomacy and coercive clauses in infrastructure loan agreements.
MEP Thomas Waitz also stresses that "North Macedonia has drafted an excellent and ambitious reform agenda – arguably one of the best in the region."
He adds that "its rigorous implementation would put the country back on track, especially in key areas such as fighting corruption, ensuring judicial independence, reforming public administration, and improving the situation of media freedom."
"However, some recent developments, including the country’s decision to abstain from the latest European resolution on Ukraine in the UN General Assembly while co-sponsoring the U.S. resolution in February 2025, have raised concerns among North Macedonia’s EU supporters about its long-term trajectory."
"I sincerely hope that all parties—North Macedonia’s authorities, EU institutions, and neighbouring countries—recognise the urgency of the moment and act decisively to move forward," Waitz says.