Start of EU-negotiations: not yet/ Capital city: Skopje / Population: 2.05 million

Previously one of Yugoslavia’s six constituent Republics, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia became an independent state in 1991. It is a land-locked country in the central Balkans, mountainous with deep basins and valleys. Its best-known tourist feature is Lake Ohrid, on the western border with Albania.

The country possesses some mineral resources, including iron-ore, copper, lead and zinc. The main economic activities include food processing, tobacco, textiles, chemical, steel and cement. The main contributions to economic growth come from manufacturing, construction and trade.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as a candidate country receives EU financial assistance and during 2007-2012 the country will receive 401.5 million euro. The total assistance of the EU to the country since 1992 amounts to more than 800 million euro.

The country’s local cooking includes specialties like caraway pork with cabbage, stuffed pigeon and the local version of “shopska” salad (based on tomato, cucumber and sheep’s cheese) which is found throughout the Balkans.