Europe risks losing strategic clout in Western Balkans


Open letter is signed by ten former Prime Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of the EU and the Balkans calling on the European Union leadership not to delay the start of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. The letter highlights the risks to security and stability in the Western Balkans from the […]

Toxic spill at the chemical plant OHIS detected by local residents


Inspectors of the Kisela Voda Municipality, the City of Skopje and the State Environment Inspectorate and a team of the Interior Ministry have arrived at the chemical plant OHIS, where water was spilled after being used to clean a cistern in which methyl acrylate monomer had been stored. The spillage was detected after local residents […]

Dimitrov-Dendias: Bilateral cooperation in all fields of mutual interest through implementation of the Prespa deal


Bilateral relations, developments in the region and its European perspective following the recent European Council were in the focus of today’s meeting of North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Geneva. The meeting took place at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s “Strategic Dialogue on the Western Balkans […]

36% of young people have left because of bad policies


76% of young people aged 15-29 left North Macedonia to find a job, 35% in search of a better life, while 36% left because of the political situation, says the Network for the Prevention of Displacement of people”, made up of several non-governmental associations. The survey has been supported and conducted jointly with USAID and […]

Leaders meet at World Economic Forum in Geneva


North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov are attending Strategic Dialogue on the Western Balkans Leaders Meeting, hosted by the World Economic Forum in Geneva. Friday’s working session brings together leaders of Western Balkan countries and the wider region, officials of the European Commission, organizations in Europe, […]

Hahn: I hope the mistake of not opening talks with North Macedonia and Albania will be reversed


Outgoing EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, addressed the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday. Debate was mainly focused on the Western Balkans. The enlargement commissioner once again voiced regret that EU member states failed to reach consensus in October to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania […]

Falconi: Palmer’s statement of ‘EU’s historic mistake’ is wrong


French Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Louis Falconi said his country had “no reserves” regarding the EU accession of Western Balkan countries, adding that certain criteria must be fulfilled. “On the issue of opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, I must say these countries have made exceptional efforts, especially with the signing of the Prespa […]

New Zaev-Mitsotakis meeting, this time in Thessaloniki


Prime Ministers of North Macedonia and Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Zoran Zaev will have a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of “Thessaloniki Summit 209”, which will be held in Thessaloniki next Thursday and Friday, November 14 and 15. The meeting was officially announced by the Greek Prime Minister’s office. Mitsotakis will also use his participation […]

Zaev: new methodology for EU accession negotiationswould give us a fair chance


The new methodology for EU accession negotiations can be adapted by the first intergovernmental conference, which takes place a few months after the decision to start talks is reached, said Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev. “The new methodology would give us a fair chance. If we succeed, we move forward. If we don’t, […]

Single election district will attract more voters


Prime Minister Zoran Zaev expressed hope Thursday that consensus would be reached on a change of the electoral model from six to a single election district, saying big parties would eventually lose MP seats but the chance for authoritarian rule would be eliminated. “We promised to the citizens a single election district back in 2016. […]

Serwer: The Kosovo-Serbia agreement will be reached after President Trump’s mandate


A debate on “Kosovo, the new government, the European Union, dialogue with Serbia and the future of the state” was held at Johns Hopkins University. At the roundtable, renowned analyst said the chances of reaching an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia before the end of President Trump’s mandate in 2021 are slim. “Any agreement that […]

Picula and Drljević: The EU membership for the Balkan countries is important in terms of stability in the region


The European Parliament supports the enlargement policy and Montenegro should continue on the right path of implementing reforms, in order to become the next member of the EU, Chief Negotiator Aleksandar Drljević and European Parliament Rapporteur for Montenegro Tonino Picula noted. During his visit to Brussels, the Chief Negotiator met with the new EP Rapporteur for Montenegro, […]

Bulgarian MEP Kyuchyuk appointed new EP rapporteur for North Macedonia


Bulgarian MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk is the new European Parliament rapporteur for North Macedonia. The EP’s Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the decision on Wednesday.  Kyuchyuk is appointed to this position, which was previously held by Slovenian MEP Ivo Vajgl, for a mandate of 5 years.   The rapporteur’s role in the EP is to prepare reports […]

Grubi: It’s absurd to mull changing the electoral model 5 months before the elections


DUI MP Artan Grubi said Wednesday the political parties have aligned changes to the Electoral Code that doesn’t foresee changes to the electoral model. On Tuesday, a round table was organized in Parliament by 15 MPs initiating changes to the electoral model to include a single electoral district, instead of six. Yesterday’s round table was […]

Every young person that moves away costs the country EUR 15,848 on an annual level


Every young person that migates costs the country EUR 15,848 on an annual level, said representatives of a brain drain prevention network, made up of seven civic organization. They can’t confirm the number of young people who have left the country, but underline the need for a new population census. “The main reason young people […]

Sistina sues Boki 13 for unpaid hospital bills


Today’s hearing, in which the private clinic Sistina is demanding 634,251 denars from the defendant in the Racket case, Bojan Jovanovski-Boki 13, has been adjourned after the defendant’s lawyer’s power of attorney has been canceled. The debt of more than 10,000 euros is based on unpaid surgery at the Sistina clinic, which is owned by […]

Spasovski: Elections will not prolong the vetting process


The process of vetting the police is underway. The model has been selected, a working group has been set up to work on whether to move to a new law or amend the legal solutions. It should be completed by the beginning of next year and then the review will start. This was stated by […]