The EU released the funds from the first tranche for North Macedonia
Express newspaper
01/09/2025 14:53
With the decision of the European Commission on the implementation and approval of the first release of funds for North Macedonia within the framework of the Reform and Growth Instrument for the Western Balkans, the first payment of funds for the country was approved, the Ministry for European Affairs announces.
The Ministry said that with this decision, a net amount of around 2,3 million euros has been approved as non-refundable assistance and a net amount of around 2 million euros as borrowing, which will be available through the Western Balkans Investment Framework and a net amount of around 3,7 million euros, which represents the remaining part of the borrowing dedicated to direct budget support.
According to the ministry, this amount does not include around 3,6 million euros, which are dedicated to repaying part of the funds that the state has previously collected as pre-financing.
“The funds were secured after the submission of the Request by the Minister for European Affairs, Orhan Murtezani, who, as the National Coordinator for the Reform and Growth Instrument, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, and through the Ministry for European Affairs, submitted all the documentation for the steps from the Reform Agenda 2024–2027, with a deadline for implementation by December 2024 (respectively by February 2025),” the ministry announced.
“The request included reforms in several areas: In the field of public finance management, legal changes were foreseen for more efficient and transparent budget management. In the energy field, new management structures were created for the implementation of the just transition plan. In the field of the business environment, new rules were established for independence in the management of state-owned companies. In the field of the rule of law, measures were foreseen for the regular filling of the positions of judges and public prosecutors in accordance with the long-term projections of the competent councils,” the ministry’s announcement states.
The Ministry announces that according to the European Commission’s assessment, two steps have been fully implemented: the adoption of the Law on Public Internal Financial Control and the amendments to the Law on Trade Associations.
“This represents 40 percent of the implementation of the steps, or 50 percent in relation to the funds. For the remaining steps, the Commission found that they have not been fully implemented and an additional grace period of up to 24 months has been provided for them, namely until December 2026. This means that the state has additional time to implement them and to release the remaining funds from the overall allocated funds, which amount to around 17,1 million euros,” the ministry said.