Czech lower house to back North Macedonia's NATO bid

The Czech Chamber of Deputies approved the treaty on North Macedonia joining NATO in the first round of the debate on Thursday, passing it on to its foreign affairs committee. The anti-EU Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) was unable to push through the rejection of the treaty. The Senate already agreed to North Macedonia's NATO accession in mid-June. By joining NATO, North Macedonia would become the alliance's 30th member state. The step must be approved by the parliaments of all NATO members.