Nordic Support for Progress of North Macedonia
A)
The Government of Norway has decided to fund a
sub-regional programme “Nordic Support for Progress in North Macedonia” to be
implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The
project consists of a socio-economic development support to the more
undeveloped parts of the country and also envisages support to the Macedonian
authorities responsible for leading the renewed efforts on the EU accession
process.
The Government of Norway has allocated funding for the
implementation of the Project in Macedonia during 24 months.
The Overall Objective is to contribute to a more
balanced socio-economic development and contribute to the implementation of the
Stabilization and Association Agreement and EU accession negotiations
priorities.
Specifically, the programme has objectives at the
local and national levels i.e. locally, to increase employment opportunities,
support social cohesion as well as to enhance local infrastructure in the less
developed areas with a focus given to the inclusion of youth, women and
vulnerable groups in the labour market. Nationally, the programme aims at
supporting the government to improve its capacity for EU integration and
government reform agenda in the accession process
All Project activities will be undertaken in
partnership and cooperation with national and local 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.
B)
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 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 – relevant for the assignment
The purpose
of Result 3 “Supporting the government reform agenda in the accession
process”
is to provide support to relevant national is
to contribute to further building of capacities of the central coordination structures
for the accession process and relevant national authorities.
The Parliament Committee for European affairs (CEA) monitor the
implementation of the NPAA legislative plan and obligations arising from the
SAA and other international instruments; harmonization of the national
legislation with the EU legislation; other activities relevant for the
accession process; monitor Government activities, relevant for the accession
negotiation process; regular inform the Parliament on all EU related issues;
cooperate with other working bodies of the parliament. The project will provide
consultancy support for the work of CEA, through outsourced
expertise/consultancy.