AKIPRESS.COM - Since 1991, Athens has objected to its neighbour being called Macedonia, blocking it from membership of the two organisations, Sky News reports.

Macedonia may now be free to pursue NATO and EU membership after its parliament approved a change of the country's name.

The small Balkan state had found its path to membership blocked by Greece for decades, due to a dispute over the name.

Greece has a province also called Macedonia.

But on Friday, Macedonia's parliament approved the proposed new name of Republic of North Macedonia, despite a referendum on the matter failing to reach the minimum participation threshold of 50%.

The referendum had been on the deal reached by the leaders of Greece and Macedonia in June, which sparked protests by thousands of Greeks.