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 1 “Supporting the government reform agenda in the accession process” is to provide support to relevant national institutions in charge of alignment of national legal acts with the EU acquis and to contribute to further building of capacities of the central coordination structures and relevant national structures for successful carrying out of the screening process (explanatory and bilateral screening). 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 is planned, monitored and updated on a regular basis. The NPAA is prepared and monitored by established 33 working groups, for each chapter of the acquis.
The NPAA comprises a comprehensive analysis of the EU Acquis, listing the short- and medium-term priorities in the planning reforms, policies and strategies, plan and schedule for harmonization of national legislation with the Acquis, administrative structures for implementation of legislation in terms of capacity building, establishment new/or restructuring the existing, human resource development and training needs, as well as financial resources. The NPAA is revised every year, taking into account the European Commission Progress Reports and possible updates of the EU acquis. The NPAA is a good base for the preparation of the administration for the screening process and preparation of negotiation positions in the negotiation process.
The Ministry of Economy (ME) is responsible institution for chapter 15 Energy Policy. The national policy in the field of energy is defined by the Energy Law and the Strategy for Developing the Energy Sector until 2040. All other documents, including acts of secondary legislation, action plans, implementation programs etc., stem out from these two underlying documents and are aligned with them. Within the ME, the Energy Sector is responsible for strategic planning, preparation of legislation, development of energy policy, including energy efficiency and promoting use of renewable energy, and monitoring and collection of data related to generation, supply and demand of energy. The Energy Law implements the provisions and obligations from the Third Energy Package of EU and the Directive for Renewable Energy Sources. This Directive is partially transposed, lacking the part that refers to the biofuels, which sets the need for preparation of separate law on biofuels. With assignment of this expert, the process of legislative alignment is expected to be streamlined, which will result in better alignment with the acquis under the Energy Community Treaty and the EU energy acquis, better conditions for performing energy activities, a stable legal and regulatory framework and higher potential for investments in the energy sector. These priorities are defined in the EC country report 2019. In NPAA 2020– 2025, Law on Biofuels is envisaged to be adopted in Q4 2020.