Voting has begun in FYROM on the referendum – where voters must decide whether or not to support a historic agreement that could unblock the country’s stalled path towards EU and NATO membership. But so far the turnout of voters has been low.

A total of 3,480 polling stations opened at 7am on Sunday for the referendum in FYROM in which some 1.8 million voters will have the right to decide whether or not they support the “name” agreement reached this summer with Greece (Prespa Agreement).

Voters will have to answer the question: “Do you support EU and NATO membership by accepting the deal between Macedonia and Greece?”

Under a deal signed with Greece this summer, FYROM agreed to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia, while Greece agreed to lift its long-standing veto on Macedonia’s NATO and EU integration.

A “Yes” vote would give the green light to MPs to change FYROM’s constitution and so enforce the use of the new name.

Polls close on Sunday at 7pm and the first unofficial data about the outcome are expected to arrive later that evening.

more at balkaninsight.com