Our Scans · North Macedonia · Weekly Summary

• The EWI project is implemented in four countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, with the goal of enhancing women's economic rights and opportunities. Care Balkans
• The region, comprising Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, is expected to see a collective growth of 3.7% in 2025, reflecting a positive outlook amid global economic uncertainties. BalkanEU
• In Europe, North Macedonia, Finland and Sweden ultimately joined NATO, the latter two in response to the Russian war against Ukraine and the growing russian threats against European countries. Future
• The six countries in the region-Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia - are expected to see a collective growth of 3.2% in 2025, slightly below previous forecasts. BalkanEU
• The combined economic growth of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia will reach 3.2% in 2025, 0.5 percentage points below previous projections. Mirage News
• In the short term, the indirect impact on North Macedonia's exports caused by US tariffs on the EU could be more significant. Frontier Markets News
• Young social entrepreneurs from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia will be supported throughout an Ideation and Incubation Chapter from which innovative solutions nourishing a dynamic ecosystem will emerge. Opportunity Desk
• Montenegro is the first to complete negotiations, followed by Albania, while it takes North Macedonia longer to convince the EU, and especially Greece and Bulgaria, that it poses no threat to their cultural and linguistic heritage and can take on the rights and obligations of EU membership. GIS Reports
• North Macedonia's reopening of a long-running name dispute could hurt its EU bid, hours after the incoming prime minister in Skopje rejected criticism from Athens. www.euractiv.com
• Bosnia will join neighbours Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Ukraine, and Moldova, which are all at various stages of their EU membership bids. www.euractiv.com
• Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia are expected to receive provisional accession dates in 2024, in part to mitigate growing Russian and Chinese influence in the Western Balkans. www.euractiv.com
• Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia are expected to receive provisional accession dates, in part to mitigate growing Russian and Chinese influence in the Balkans. DW.COM
• Growth in Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo is projected to speed up in 2024, supported by an increase in consumption and investment. World Bank
• Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia will benefit from a new €6 billion growth plan for the Western Balkans. European Commission
• The six countries - Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo - are at different stages on their path to joining the EU, a process expected to take years. The Washington Post
• Phasing out coal in line with EU policies could lead to the loss of 0.4% of all jobs in Montenegro, 0.5% in North Macedonia, 0.6% in Serbia, 1.3% in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 1.4% in Kosovo. Carnegie Europe
• The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending new financing to Stopanska Banka, which will benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in North Macedonia. Regional Economic Prospects
• The EU's regular enlargement update is due in October, when EU officials are expected to report on progress in negotiations with the six Western Balkan states that have been waiting in line for more than two decades - Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Kosovo. The Associated Press
• By joining the LIFE programme, North Macedonia will have the opportunity to benefit from LIFE's support for mobilising public and private resources for climate action, biodiversity protection, circular economy and clean energy transition. European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiati
• The EU is green-lighting Bulgaria's claims, proposing a deal which will force North Macedonia to enshrine reference to Bulgarians in its constitution, which also leaves Bulgaria free to keep rejecting the existence of the Macedonian language. UnHerd
• Over the last year alone, Ukraine, Moldova and Bosnia-Herzegovina have become EU candidates, Georgia has become a potential candidate, and Albania and North Macedonia have finally opened negotiations, while Finland has entered NATO and Sweden will do so soon. Politico
• The two-year initiative will enhance the role of youth in promoting increased comprehension and respect for diversity in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Last updated: 13 June 2025