Between June 22nd and June 26th, 2023, the program team convened with key partners - the Secretariat for EU Integration in North Macedonia and the Directorate for European Integration in Albania - with the primary goal of enhancing collaboration on two critical fronts: continuous UNOPS support and upcoming expert deployments.

Discussions were also held with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and the European Union Delegation (EUD) missions in Skopje and Tirana. This strategic coordination ensures harmonisation and complementarity with other interventions happening in the countries.

To date, in North Macedonia, UNOPS Austria delivered technical assistance and specialised expertise in relation to selected chapters of the EU acquis: #Chapter 8 -  Competition policy and #Chapter 22 - Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments. Additional support was extended to enhance the development of methodologies for Roadmaps for the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions and public administration reform.

In Albania, UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office delivers specialised expertise in relation to several key chapters of the EU acquis, including:

# Chapter 11 - Agriculture and Rural Development; 

# Chapter 12 - Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Policy;

# Chapter 22 - Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments;

# Chapter 33 - Financial and Budgetary Provisions. 

Furthermore, UNOPS & Norway commitment extends to negotiation process support under  #Cluster3 - Competitiveness & inclusive growth.