Nordic
Support for Progress of North Macedonia
The Swedish International Development Cooperation
Agency has
decided to fund a project “Support to progress in North Macedonia - Government reform agenda in the EU-accession process” to be implemented by the United Nations
Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The objective of the project supported by
the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) is to support
the enhancement of the EU integration capacity of the Republic of North
Macedonia by providing technical assistance to government institutions during
the accession period.
SIDA
has allocated funding for the implementation of the project in North Macedonia
during 24 months.
The Overall Objective of the SIDA support is
to contribute to, and effectively communicate to the public, the implementation
of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, accession negotiations and Government
reform priorities in the Republic of North Macedonia.
Project
interventions are aimed towards communicating the benefits of the EU accession
process to the general population, as well as to involve the civil society and
media throughout the accession phases. All project activities will be
undertaken in partnership with the Government of Macedonia, in cooperation with
the national institutions, with the aim of allowing them to adopt/adapt the
legal requirements and, where relevant, EU accession criteria.
This will
ensure national ownership and support the development of national capacities.
Background
Information - in relation to
Chapter 3 Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services, and
related to the Mutual recognition of professional qualifications (MRPQ)
Macedonian Government is in process of preparations for formal opening
of accession negotiations with the EU and is accelerating government reforms,
including implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA)
in two successive stages. At present, there is an on-going transition to the
SAA second stage and explanatory meetings of the European Commission on
chapters of the acquis. The overall process
is coordinated by the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA), as main
coordination body in the accession negotiation process.
The National
Programme for Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA), as key strategic and planning
document in the accession negotiation process, encompasses the on-going process
of gradual approximation of legislation with the acquis covering all areas
already in the SAA first stage, including those foreseen in the second stage.
The NPAA is planned, monitored and updated on regular basis by the working
groups for approximation to the acquis, following the structure of the 33
chapters of the acquis.
The area of Mutual recognition
of professional qualifications (MRPQ), relevant for this assignment, is part of
Chapter 3 - Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services, for which
explanatory meeting was conducted on 11-12 December 2018. As part of its obligations under Chapter 3, the country must harmonize
the national legislation with acquis related to the recognition of professional
qualifications. This includes harmonization of the national legislation
with Directive 2005/36/EC on professional qualifications
(updated with the Directive 2013/55/EU).
The Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) in charge of the
inter-ministerial working group for professional qualifications, has been
working on the analysis and transposition of the abovementioned Directive on
professional qualifications and prepared a Draft Law on mutual recognition of
professional qualifications, updated the list of regulated professions and relevant
sector legislation that needs further harmonization.
In preparations for the bilateral screening of Chapter 3, in the area of
professional qualifications, MoES and other beneficiaries, will have to review
the acquis and the case-law presented at the explanatory meeting, update the level
of alignment of the national legislation and prepare of comprehensive Action
Plan planning for further harmonization, development of institutional framework
for implementation and capacity building measures also taking in consideration
obligations under the second stage of SAA.
SEA will serve
as focal point, provide all relevant documentation, working tools and
instructions, and designate contact person/coordinator to facilitate the work
of the selected specialist under this ToR.