Relationship dossier
North Macedonia
Serbia
Relationship assessment
Generally cooperative relations, with regional economic cooperation and past disputes linked to Kosovo and church status.
North Macedonia toward Serbia
+40North Macedonia has participated with Serbia in regional economic cooperation, including the Open Balkan initiative, and has pursued bilateral cooperation on European integration. Its 2008 recognition of Kosovo caused a serious diplomatic dispute with Serbia, which was subsequently normalized.
Serbia toward North Macedonia
+40Serbia recognized North Macedonia in 1996 and has engaged with it in regional economic initiatives, including Open Balkan. The Serbian Orthodox Church recognized the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in 2022, easing a longstanding church-related dispute.
Overall relationship
+40The relationship combines sustained practical cooperation, particularly through regional economic initiatives, with occasional political and religious friction. The Kosovo recognition dispute strained relations in 2008, while Serbia’s 1996 recognition of North Macedonia and the 2022 church settlement reflect important foundations for bilateral engagement.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
North Macedonia and Serbia have maintained generally cooperative relations, including through regional economic initiatives and cooperation on European integration. Serbia recognized North Macedonia in 1996. Relations have also faced friction over North Macedonia’s recognition of Kosovo in 2008 and the Serbian Orthodox Church’s long-running dispute with the Macedonian Orthodox Church, which eased after the Serbian church recognized its autocephaly in 2022.
Areas of tension
- North Macedonia’s 2008 recognition of Kosovo prompted a diplomatic dispute with Serbia.
- The Serbian Orthodox Church’s longstanding refusal to recognize the Macedonian Orthodox Church’s autocephaly was a religious and institutional point of contention.
Key developments
Serbia recognized the Republic of Macedonia.
North Macedonia’s recognition of Kosovo triggered a diplomatic dispute with Serbia.
The Serbian Orthodox Church recognized the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church.
North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania launched the regional initiative that became known as Open Balkan.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral cooperation agreements are unclear.
- The durability and practical effects of regional initiatives such as Open Balkan are uncertain.