The Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, announced that North Macedonia will receive additional funding under the Reform and Growth Facility, in recognition of the progress made in implementing its reform agenda.
“North Macedonia is now among the best performing countries. Progress is being made in aligning with European Union law and European standards. That is why it is part of the group of countries to which we will grant additional funding”, Ms Kos said in Skopje at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, on Wednesday 8 July.
At the same time, however, she called for a “consensus among the parties” in order to adopt the electoral code “swiftly” and urged North Macedonia to “launch the process” of revising the Constitution – so as to include the Bulgarian people in the preamble – which “remains the indispensable step for formally opening accession negotiations”.
“For us, there is currently no other option and no plan B; our only option is accession to the European Union and our commitment to seeing the reforms through”, Mr Mickoski said. He stressed that the accession process must “remain based on clear criteria, values and respect for reform obligations, and not be burdened by bilateral issues”, while welcoming the increase in European funding, secured thanks to his government’s “hard work” in implementing reforms.
North Macedonia is expected to benefit from additional funding under the European Union’s €6 billion Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans. According to European sources cited by Agence Europe, these resources could come from the allocations initially planned for Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, which have recorded more limited progress in implementing the reforms agreed in return for that funding.
The European Commission is currently assessing the reform steps scheduled for mid-2025, following the expiry on 30 June of the grace period granted for their implementation. (see EUROPE 13901/18). (Original version in French by Ana Pisonero Hernández)