Thewesternbalkans
According to the document of the European Commission, the 2024 report is presented in a renewed format and structure. Main findings of the report, together with the recommendations are brought together at the beginning of the report.
Following the first Intergovernmental Conference on accession negotiations on 19 July 2022, the screening sessions for all six clusters were completed on 7 December 2023. North Macedonia continued to implement the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the joint bodies under the agreement met.
The main conclusion of the Report is that “North Macedonia has consistently stated its political commitment to the strategic goal of EU integration and its ambition to move forward in the accession negotiations”. Other important conclusion is that “the essential EU-related reforms need to be implemented. North Macedonia maintained good relations with other enlargement countries and continued its engagement in regional initiatives. Existing bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries need to be implemented in good faith by all parties, including the Prespa Agreement between North Macedonia and Greece and the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria.”
And probably the most important conclusion is: “North Macedonia maintained its full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, sending a strong signal of its strategic choice of EU accession and showing itself, once more, to be a reliable partner. In 2023, North Macedonia has played an active role in a complex geopolitical context during its term as chair of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)” the Report said.
North Macedonia has actively engaged in the implementation of the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans across its four pillars. Its Reform Agenda covers reform milestones in the areas of governance, public administration reform and public financial management; green and digital transition; human capital; private sector development and business environment; and fundamental rights and the rule of law.
The analysis of the general part of the conclusions of the EC shows that the Commission devotes its main attention to the implementation of the recommendations made in the negotiation framework, as well as it is ready to reflect positively on the achieved results. It is strongly emphasized that the main strategic goal of North Macedonia remains its European integration, and in terms of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, there is full alignment. Of course, it was emphasized that the RNM should implement the existing bilateral agreements, including those with Greece and Bulgaria. An important conclusion is that the RNM is actively involved in the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
In the second part of the Report, the EC enter into details of the different clusters.
CLUSTER 1: The fundamentals of the accession process.
According to the Report, on democracy, “the conduct of the elections was mostly satisfactory, the parliamentary and presidential elections were competitive and fundamental freedoms were respected. The election legislation provides a suitable framework for holding democratic elections. However, limited progress was made on addressing the outstanding recommendations of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Venice Commission.
The Parliament was found to exercise its powers in a mostly satisfactory way. However, political polarisation in Parliament persisted, delaying the adoption of important reforms and several long-overdue appointments. Cross-party collaboration is essential to accelerate the implementation of EU-related reforms, in the interest of citizens. Despite attempts, thus far, no progress was made on adopting the constitutional changes, with a view to including in the Constitution citizens who live within the borders of the State and who are part of other peoples, such as Bulgarians, as referred to in the Council Conclusions of 18 July 2022, which the country committed to launch and achieve.
It is worth noting that the inclusion of Bulgarians in the constitution of the RNM is included in the section on the functioning of the institutions (Parliament), and not in the section on the human rights, where it belongs.
From now on, despite the very clear message from the Report, bearing in mind the positive attitude of the EU and its readiness to discuss the specific actions of the RNM on the various negotiation clusters and the specific chapters, Bulgaria will probably have to prove the number of Bulgarians in the RNM, the manner of violation of their human rights, specific case of discrimination, etc.
The Report continues that “the institutions in charge of the integration process are in place. The new government established a Ministry of European Affairs, replacing the Secretariat for European Affairs. Following the successful completion of the screening process, North Macedonia needs to continue strengthening its EU negotiating structures and achieve sound coordination across line ministries and institutions, while further developing EU-acquis-related expertise across the public administration.
Permanent and decisive steps are needed to accelerate the implementation of EU reforms and move forward in the EU accession negotiation process. Cross-party collaboration remains vital in this regard. A reform of local self-government is urgently needed and the dialogue between different levels of government should be relaunched. Inter-ethnic relations remained stable, and the Ohrid Framework Agreement continued to be implemented.”
Civil society organisations (CSOs). North Macedonia operate in an overall enabling environment.
Public administration reform. North Macedonia remains moderately prepared in the area of public administration reform.
The Report says that North Macedonia is between having some and a moderate level of preparation in applying the EU acquis and European standards in the area of Freedom of expression, Judiciary and fundamental rights, as well as on Fight against corruption and fight against organised crime. Corruption remains prevalent in many areas and is an issue of serious concern. The current government has stated that the fight against corruption is a priority.
On Fundamental rights the legal framework on the protection of fundamental rights is partially aligned with the EU acquis and European standards. The country continues to meet its general obligations on fundamental rights, but legislation should be implemented in a systematic manner.
Justice, freedom and security. North Macedonia is moderately prepared to implement the EU acquis. Some progress was made in the area of asset recovery and confiscation by further aligning the legislation with the EU acquis. Limited progress was made on migration and asylum where there was no further alignment with EU acquis. The new Frontex agreement is implemented in a satisfactory manner.
CLUSTER 2. Economic criteria.
North Macedonia has made some progress and is at a good level of preparation in developing a functioning market economy. Capital expenditure was raised significantly and fiscal governance reforms advanced. The current account balance improved markedly on account of falling import prices for energy and food. The central bank has kept the key interest rate unchanged since September 2023, as inflation has continued to subside. The banking sector remained resilient, and financial stability was bolstered by new macroprudential measures.
North Macedonia has made some progress and is moderately prepared , to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the EU, in the area of public procurement, on the free movement of goods, on the right of establishment and the freedom to provide services, prepared in the area of free movement of capital, in the area of intellectual property law, in the area of competition and in the area of financial services.
North Macedonia is at an early stage of preparation on freedom of movement for workers and no progress was made in this area. The Commission’s recommendations from last year were not implemented and therefore remain largely valid.
The country has a good level of preparation in the area of company law. However, no progress was made during the reporting period. The country needs to step up efforts to align its legislation with the EU acquis in this area.
CLUSTER 3: Competitiveness and inclusive growth.
The country is moderately prepared in the area of digital transformation and media, in the area of taxation, in the area of social policy and employment.
The Commission’s recommendations from last year were not fully implemented and therefore remain largely valid.
The country is between a moderate and a good level of preparation in the area of economic and monetary policy, in the area of enterprise and industrial policy.
The country has a good level of preparation in the area of science and research. Some progress was made, notably by adopting the smart specialisation strategy for 2024-2027, setting up the European Institute of Innovation and Technology regional innovation scheme (EIT RIS), and continuing to participate in Horizon Europe.
Limited progress was made on the consolidation and upgrade of IT systems. The customs administration implements a fully paperless environment for processing customs declarations and excise documents.
The Commission’s recommendations from last year were partially implemented and remain largely valid.
North Macedonia is moderately prepared in the area of education and culture.
CLUSTER 4: The Green agenda and sustainable connectivity.
The country is moderately prepared in the area of transport and in the area of energy. Some progress was made in the reporting period, notably by adopting the new Law on aviation. The sector inspection bodies still lack administrative and operational capacity to improve. In the area of energy some progress was made on renewable energy, with investments in solar power plants and in regional gas interconnectors. The country needs to accelerate its transition towards green energy and reduce its dependence on coal and gas.
Trans-European networks
North Macedonia has a good level of preparation in the area of trans-European networks. Limited progress was made during the reporting period.
The Commission’s recommendations from last year were not implemented and therefore remain valid. In the coming year, North Macedonia should in particular: strengthen the operational and technical capacity of all management and stakeholder institutions dealing with the development of both the Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) and Trans-European Energy (TEN-E) networks, harmonise the legal framework and increase compliance with the Trans-European Network Regulation; mobilise sufficient resources to implement the goals and deadlines set out in the Transport Community’s five-year rolling work plan for the development of the TEN-T extension; make the Railway Border-Crossing Protocol signed with Kosovo operational, finalise the mutual agreement for border crossings procedures with Greece, and accelerate progress on the construction and completion of the rail connection along Corridor VIII with Bulgaria.
It is a very important conclusion. RNM has a good level of preparation in the area of TEN-s and the lack of progress on Corridor VIII with Bulgaria is a result of political stubbornness.
In the area of Environment and climate change North Macedonia has some level of preparation. Limited progress was made during the reporting period, notably in the area of waste management, by adopting a law on expanding the producer’ s responsibility. The Commission’s recommendations from last year were not fully addressed and remain valid.
CLUSTER 5: Resources, agriculture, and cohesion
According to the Report, North Macedonia remains moderately prepared in the area of agriculture and rural development. Good progress was made during the reporting period, notably by adopting the Law on advisory services and by making progress on IPARD II and IPARD III implementation.
“North Macedonia has a good level of preparation in the areas of food safety, and veterinary and phytosanitary policy. Some progress was made over the reporting period, particularly in fighting animal diseases, plant health control and implementing pest eradication measures based on phytosanitary monitoring programmes results.
North Macedonia is moderately prepared in the area of fisheries and aquaculture, as well as in the area of regional policy and coordination of structural instruments” – the Report said.
Preparations under chapter Financial and budgetary provisions are at an early stage.
CLUSTER 6: External relations
The EC insists in the Report that “the country has a good level of preparation in the area of external relations and Foreign, security and defence policy. Good progress was made as the country maintained its track record of full alignment with relevant High Representative statements on behalf of the EU and relevant Council Decisions, including EU restrictive measures related to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. North Macedonia continued to participate in EU crisis management missions and operations. The country initiated negotiations on a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU in spring 2024.”
In the coming year, North Macedonia should in particular: maintain full alignment with the EU common foreign and security policy; continue to strengthen its capacity to implement and enforce the sanctions in place; make additional efforts to align legislation in the area of small arms and light weapons.
Finally, we can say that the structure of the new report is very interesting and revealing, starting with Cluster 1 – Foundations of the accession process, including fundamental rights and obligations. At the same time, the numbering of the negotiation chapters has been preserved. The combination of the two shows a completely shifted emphasis on priorities, which very much illustrates the level of ambition of the EU itself. From a purely economic union (and that is why the first 10 chapters are economic), the EU is increasingly becoming a Union with geopolitical ambitions, which also shifts the center of gravity of the new requirements from economic to fundamental political ones and especially full alignment with Foreign, security and defence policy of the EU.
