Skopje, 11 July 2025 — As part of the Knowledge for Reform (K4R) Project implemented by UNOPS in close partnership with the Support to European Integration of North Macedonia project, a new round of technical assistance has been successfully delivered to the Ministry for European Affairs (MEA) of North Macedonia. The focus of this support was on building institutional capacity to prepare high-quality negotiating positions for key EU accession chapters under Cluster 1 – Fundamentals.

Between 8 and 11 July 2025, UNOPS experts facilitated a series of in-depth workshops and simulations with MEA officials and national working groups, covering:

• Chapter 5 – Public Procurement
• Chapter 18 – Statistics
• Chapter 32 – Financial Control
• As well as pilot updates for Public Administration Reform and Functioning of Democratic Institutions.

These sessions marked the continuation of structured technical support provided throughout 2024 and 2025, including earlier contributions to the Reform Agenda 2024–2027, roadmap drafting, and screening preparation.

"Together, we are making steady progress in aligning with the EU acquis and strengthening the institutional capacities essential for our path to membership“, noted the Deputy Minister of European Affairs Ms Viktorija Trjakov.

"We are entering a very important phase in North Macedonia’s EU accession journey. Developing clear and technically sound negotiating positions is not just a formal requirement—it’s a strategic tool for demonstrating reform ownership and institutional maturity," said Aleksandar Andrija Pejović, UNOPS/K4R expert and lead facilitator for horizontal issues under Cluster 1.

The activities helped finalise pilot drafts of negotiating positions and provided participants with the opportunity to test arguments, receive expert feedback, and incorporate comparative practices from the EU. The simulation format created a realistic environment to improve communication skills and strengthen internal coordination mechanisms.

UNOPS remains committed to supporting North Macedonia’s EU integration path through targeted capacity-building interventions, technical assistance, and policy coordination mechanisms. The work will continue in the coming months, further supporting the preparation of negotiation documents, enhancing interinstitutional coordination, and strengthening sectoral ownership.