AGP Executive Report

EU Politics: Manfred Weber says the EPP’s “firewall” against the far right is wobbling, as internal rebels push closer ties to Patriots and AfD—raising stakes for next year’s national elections. Energy Transition: Balkan grid operators are racing to absorb renewables without breaking supply, with Serbia planning major transmission upgrades and new gas links. Regional Energy Security: Ministers in Athens stress interconnectors and corridors—Vertical Gas Corridor logic is now spreading westward, including Greece–North Macedonia and North Macedonia–Serbia links. North Macedonia–Albanian Rights: Albanian students protest in Skopje today over the bar exam language, arguing the state must deliver Albanian-language testing, not just promise it. Diplomacy: President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova begins an official visit to Slovenia focused on EU efforts and bilateral cooperation. Security Watch: A U.S. case against an Iraqi man accused of Iran-linked terrorism includes alleged attacks tied to North Macedonia, keeping the region on alert.

Montenegro-Serbia Tensions: Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić says he won’t attend Montenegro’s 20th independence anniversary, calling it “secession,” while Podgorica insists the 2006 referendum was democratic and not aimed at Serbia. Regional Security Drills: Rescue teams from Türkiye and across the Balkans, including North Macedonia, trained in Thessaloniki with Greece in a disaster-response exercise. Terror Case Abroad: The US charged an Iraqi man linked to Iran-backed groups over alleged plots targeting Jewish sites in Europe and North America, with prosecutors citing an attack in North Macedonia. Energy Cooperation: Energy ministers in Athens pushed gas interconnections—Greece–North Macedonia and North Macedonia–Serbia—while Serbia discussed next steps on NIS and MOL. Language Rights at Home: Albanian students plan another protest over the bar exam in Albanian on 18 May, as Skopje and Sofia-related politics keep spilling into EU talks.

Terror Crackdown: An Iraqi man, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, has been arrested in the U.S. and charged over alleged Iran-backed plots targeting Jewish sites across Europe, Canada and the U.S., including claims tied to an arson attack on a synagogue in Skopje. UK-Iran Tensions: The UK says it will deploy assets for a future Hormuz “defensive mission,” but Washington is still irritated by London’s reluctance to join U.S. strike plans. Energy Diplomacy: Energy ministers in Athens pushed faster regional grid and gas links, including Greece–North Macedonia and North Macedonia–Serbia interconnectors, as the region tries to secure supply. EU Accession Friction: North Macedonia’s foreign minister requested a formal meeting with Bulgaria’s counterpart ahead of NATO talks, amid disputes over “non-European conditions” tied to constitutional amendments. Language Rights Protest: Albanian students in North Macedonia plan another protest on 18 May over taking the bar exam in Albanian.

Energy Diplomacy: Serbia is pushing to become a regional energy hub, aiming to grow gas transport capacity through the south-north corridor to 20–25 bcm and raise electricity transmission from 4,000 to 6,000 MW, with new gas links planned with North Macedonia and Greece and a €1.2bn investment push. EU Integration Pressure: At the same energy ministers’ meeting in Athens, officials stressed that regional grid and gas-corridor cooperation is key for security of supply, while North Macedonia’s foreign minister asked Bulgaria for an official meeting during NATO talks over EU-linked “non-European conditions.” Language Rights Clash: Albanian students in North Macedonia are set to protest on 18 May over the bar exam being taken in Albanian, with support voiced by Kosovo and Montenegro figures. Justice & Security: The US charged an Iraqi man tied to Iran-backed groups over alleged plots targeting Jewish sites, including an arson attack on a synagogue in North Macedonia. Crime Update: Prosecutors say they are preparing charges in what’s believed to be the country’s first serial femicide case.

Terror Crackdown: The US Justice Department arrested and charged an Iraqi man, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, alleging he helped coordinate nearly 20 terror attacks and attempted attacks across the US, Europe and Canada, including an arson attack on a synagogue in Skopje. NATO/Ukraine Shockwaves: Analysts warn the risk of a wider Russian attack on NATO is rising as Ukraine regains momentum on the battlefield. Energy Security Push: Energy ministers meeting in Athens stressed regional cooperation for supply resilience, with talks focused on gas interconnections linking Greece–North Macedonia and North Macedonia–Serbia. EU Accession Tensions: North Macedonia’s foreign minister requested an official meeting with Bulgaria’s counterpart ahead of NATO talks, as political disputes over EU-related constitutional demands continue. Language Rights Fight: Albanian law students plan renewed protests over the bar exam language issue, with another action set for May 18. Culture Spotlight: Macedonian cinema is set to return to Cannes, with Skopje promoting new projects at the Marché du Film.

Student-Athlete Spotlight: Eastern Michigan’s Iva Daneva and Regina Mendez Carreño earned CSC Academic All-District honors, proving top tennis performance and top grades can go together. Energy Diplomacy: In Athens, Deputy Energy Minister Kiril Temelkov said Southeast Europe’s energy security depends on faster regional grid and gas-corridor cooperation, with Bulgaria pushing the East-West electricity link. Skopje–Sofia Tensions: Political parties traded accusations over Bulgaria-related issues, as North Macedonia’s foreign minister requested an official meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart ahead of NATO talks. NIS/MOL Deal Watch: Serbia’s energy minister said a final position will be sent to MOL by end of day, with a board decision expected Monday—Pancevo refinery operations remain the sticking point. Legal/Ukraine: Dozens of European countries signed up to a special tribunal plan to prosecute Russia for Ukraine-related crimes. Culture & Film: Macedonian cinema heads to Cannes again, while filming has started in Skopje on Stojan Vujičić’s fantasy coming-of-age “Snowman.” Language Rights Protest: Albanian law students say they’ll keep pushing for the bar exam in Albanian and plan renewed action on 18 May.

Albanian-language bar exam showdown: North Macedonia’s Albanian law students are back in the spotlight after protests revived the fight over whether the bar exam can be taken in Albanian. The government says it’s preparing a solution, aligned with the Venice Commission, and will send a draft for review—while students warn they’ll protest again on May 18 if they don’t get a clear decision. Diplomatic friction with Bulgaria: Skopje has requested an official meeting with Bulgaria’s foreign minister at the NATO talks in Sweden, after fresh tensions over Sofia’s use of the adjective “North Macedonian,” which Skopje says is inappropriate. Foreign policy pressure: Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski also framed constitutional amendments tied to EU accession as “non-European conditions” and urged dialogue without concession. Energy integration push: Ministers in Athens backed faster integration of Southeastern Europe’s energy grids, highlighting the Vertical Natural Gas Corridor as a security and cooperation boost. Justice update: Prosecutors say they’re preparing charges in what’s believed to be the country’s first serial femicide case.

Serial Femicide Probe: North Macedonia prosecutors say they’re preparing charges over what’s believed to be the country’s first serial femicide case—one 25-year-old suspect linked to the deaths of four women and the attempted killing of two others, with six crimes spanning 12 months to January 2026. Justice Update: Authorities say two deaths were initially ruled “natural” after exhumations showed violence, and the suspect was arrested in February after earlier killings in the northeast. EU Pressure Point: Skopje is also pushing ahead on the Albanian-language bar exam, with PM Hristijan Mickoski promising a government proposal aligned with the Venice Commission after students warned of protests. Cross-Border Tensions: Serbia is accused of stoking anti-Kosovo sentiment in Montenegro and North Macedonia as part of a broader push from politics toward institutions. Regional Security: Police chiefs in Sarajevo called for tighter cooperation against organized crime, trafficking, migration and cybercrime. Energy & Industry: EVN Macedonia has put a 10 MW/20 MWh battery storage system into operation at its Probištip solar park.

EU Accession Pressure: North Macedonia’s PM says the government will soon respond to Albanian law students over their right to take the bar exam in Albanian, with a draft proposal being prepared for Venice Commission review—students plan protests on 18 May until they get a clear decision. EU Enlargement Signals: EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos told Slovakia to speed up EU integration steps, while also pointing to North Macedonia’s reform progress and the 2030 full-membership goal for the Western Balkans. Diplomatic Friction: Skopje summoned Bulgaria’s ambassador after Sofia’s foreign minister used the phrase “our North Macedonian partners,” keeping the long-running identity dispute tied to EU progress. Energy & Sanctions Context: North Macedonia is among partners aligning with EU sanctions on Russia’s “shadow fleet,” while EVN Macedonia brought a 10 MW battery storage system into operation in Probištip. Everyday Life: A global Spotify outage hit users in North Macedonia and elsewhere, with the app reportedly failing to load.

Albanian-language bar exam standoff: North Macedonia’s PM Hristijan Mickoski says the government will soon propose a solution for Albanian law students who want to take the bar exam in Albanian, after they threatened protests on 18 May; he says the draft will be aligned with the Venice Commission’s advice and sent for review, while students insist they’ll keep protesting until they get a clear decision. EU accession pressure: EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos told Slovakia she hopes all Western Balkans countries can join the EU with full rights by 2030, urging Albania to close negotiation chapters fast. Diplomatic friction with Bulgaria: Skopje summoned Bulgaria’s ambassador over Sofia’s use of “North Macedonian” in EU talks, keeping the long-running identity dispute in focus. Serbia’s EU alignment: Serbia is the only Western Balkans EU candidate not aligning with four new EU foreign policy decisions on Ukraine/Belarus. Local oddity with a warning: A wolf kept as a pet escaped in Skopje and was taken to the zoo for quarantine.

Diplomatic Spat: Skopje summoned Bulgaria’s ambassador after Sofia’s foreign minister used the adjective “North Macedonian,” escalating a long-running identity dispute tied to EU conditions. EU Enlargement Push: In Bratislava, EU officials and “Friends of the Western Balkans” backed enlargement “without shortcuts,” but floated faster pre-membership integration through tools like SEPA and EU roaming. Regional Security: Police chiefs from eight Southeast European countries met in Sarajevo to tighten cross-border cooperation against organized crime, illegal migration, trafficking and cybercrime. Energy Market Steps: Montenegro is expected to get EU approval for electricity market coupling by end-June, while North Macedonia continues positioning itself as an active energy partner. Local Economy Watch: North Macedonia has started preparations for a 2026 budget rebalance amid global uncertainty. Everyday Life: Eurostat data shows weekend work is high in North Macedonia (32%). Tech/Media Glitch: Spotify suffered a global outage, with users reporting issues including in North Macedonia.

Streaming Disruption: Spotify is down again, with outage trackers showing thousands of reports and a “under investigation” status—users report the app not loading while the company stays quiet. EU Enlargement Push: In Bratislava, EU officials and Western Balkans partners said there are “no shortcuts” to membership, but partial integration can start now—citing SEPA and EU roaming as examples. Skopje–Sofia Mediation Bid: The VLEN coalition says it wants to mediate talks between North Macedonia and Bulgaria to unblock constitutional demands tied to EU accession. Budget Planning: North Macedonia has begun preparations for a 2026 budget rebalance, citing global uncertainty, energy disruptions, and inflation pressures. EU Funding Warning: The EU may cut up to €700m from six Balkan countries if reforms aren’t met by June 30. Regional Snapshot: Trust in the EU remains relatively high in North Macedonia (60%), but weekend work is common—32% of workers here.

Stem-cell storage dispute: North Macedonian families say a stem-cell storage trail has gone cold after they used a local intermediary to store newborn cells in a Hungarian bank—then hit silence when trying to renew or contact the bank, leaving only costly legal options. EU diplomacy & enlargement: EU officials in Brussels reiterated that every Western Balkan country has a place in the EU enlargement process, while talks also focused on Ukraine’s fast-track accession clusters. Security & arms control: The EU pushed for tougher global action against firearms trafficking at UN talks in Vienna, including new funding for a UN study on illicit arms flows. Regional military drills: Bulgaria hosted “Beyond the Horizon 26,” a multinational military police exercise that included North Macedonia and other NATO allies. Politics at home: Albanian law students in North Macedonia plan more protests over the bar exam in Albanian, while opposition voices accuse VMRO-DPMNE of fear of EU and European prosecution. Economy: National inflation data show prices rising—eggs and fuel stand out—while electricity prices remain a pressure point across the region.

EU Enlargement Push: EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos told Brussels that every Western Balkan country has a “place” in the accession process, while urging EU capitals to open all Ukraine negotiation clusters as soon as possible after Orbán’s exit. Skopje–Brussels Politics: Opposition SDSM spokesperson Bogdanka Kuzeska says VMRO-DPMNE and PM Hristijan Mickoski are “blocking” EU integration, warning that opening the door to Brussels also means the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Security Drills: The U.S. Special Operations Command Europe kicked off “Trojan Footprint 2026,” with North Macedonia among participating NATO allies and partners. Economy at Home: North Macedonia’s annual inflation hit 6.8% in April, driven by big jumps in eggs and fuel, plus higher regulated electricity and transport costs. Sports & Culture: Bosnia named Edin Dzeko and Ermin Mahmic in its World Cup squad; in Skopje, chess solver Bilguun Sumya earned a historic Grandmaster title in chess solving.

EU Enlargement Push: In Brussels, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos says she’ll urge all 27 EU states to formally open every cluster of Ukraine’s accession talks—starting with the first cluster under Cyprus’ presidency, then the rest in July—after Viktor Orbán’s exit removes the bloc’s loudest anti-enlargement voice. EU Integration for the Balkans: The same push is reviving talk of gradual Western Balkans integration, with some ministers warning the EU must still apply rules consistently. Inflation Watch: North Macedonia’s annual inflation in April hit 6.8%, driven hardest by eggs (+41%) and fuel costs. Energy Markets: MEMO launched an intraday electricity market, aiming to make trading more flexible and cut imbalance risks. Regional Politics: Skopje’s PM invited Bulgaria’s new leader Rumen Radev to visit, while Kurti faced criticism after appearing with Mickoski at an Albanian coalition event. Culture & Sports: Deep Purple announced their new album “Splat!” and a world tour; chess solving also made headlines with a Mongolian grandmaster title earned in Skopje.

In the last 12 hours, coverage touching North Macedonia was dominated by two themes: commemoration and energy market infrastructure. A ceremony marked the “Day of Valour” and the Bulgarian Armed Forces on 6 May at the Bulgarian military memorial near Novo Selo, involving Bulgarian diplomatic and defence institutions, clergy, and students, and noting the memorial’s restoration anniversary. On the energy front, MEMO (North Macedonia’s National Electricity Market Operator) launched an intraday power market, described as a major upgrade in flexibility and efficiency that allows electricity trading during the day of delivery and is intended to reduce imbalance risks and costs.

Also within the last 12 hours, several broader regional developments were reported that connect to North Macedonia’s policy environment. Serbia’s move to join SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) was reported as a step that should make euro transfers more reliable, faster, and cheaper, with North Macedonia already listed as part of SEPA in the same reporting. Another story focused on Hermann’s tortoises on the Macedonian island of Golem Grad, describing self-destructive mating behaviour that is leading to “demographic suicide,” presented as a rare wild example.

Between 12 and 72 hours ago, the most concrete North Macedonia-specific policy and institutional items included: the launch/expansion of energy-related projects (Renalfa’s battery storage installation at the Oslomej solar plant, and the broader context of battery storage reshaping solar investment), and political signals and diplomacy. North Macedonia’s PM was reported as signalling early elections could be held soon, while the Council of Europe Secretary General was scheduled to visit on 7–8 May, with a culminating signing ceremony for a Council of Europe AI framework convention—framed as anchoring technological innovation in rights, democracy, and rule of law.

Other coverage in the same window provided continuity on legal and societal issues. The Bitola Court of Appeal heard an appeal related to a xenophobia/racism conviction involving Ljupco Georgievski and the now-dissolved Ivan Mihailov Cultural Centre, with the defence arguing that republished quotes should not automatically create criminal liability. Separately, a genetic study was reported as resolving questions about Albanian origins, and a cultural item highlighted Hıdırellez celebrations across Türkiye and the Balkans, including a note that it was inscribed on UNESCO’s intangible heritage inventory via a Türkiye–North Macedonia initiative.

Overall, the strongest “news development” signal for North Macedonia in this rolling week is the intraday electricity market launch by MEMO (with clear operational implications), supported by additional energy-transition reporting around battery storage and regional market integration. By contrast, the political and legal items (early elections signalling; the Bitola appeal; Council of Europe visit) read more like ongoing institutional processes rather than a single decisive event—especially since the most recent 12-hour evidence is sparse beyond the MEMO launch and the Bulgarian memorial ceremony.