AGP Executive Report

EU Integration Watch: The Alliance for Albanians says North Macedonia is stuck in EU “political calculations,” warning that constitutional amendments are still the key condition and that the government and VLEN are staying silent without “guarantees, results, or accountability.” Politics & Justice: Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told parliament he wants opposition leader Venko Filipche “behind bars,” linking public frustration over emigration and trust in institutions to former officials enjoying freedom instead of facing prison. Anti-Corruption: Skopje’s State Commission for Preventing Corruption is investigating Government Secretary General Igor Janushev’s assets after Bulgarian media reports about a company in Bulgaria and an opposition push for a probe. Digital Push: The government launched the Vezilka project for a national AI center, aiming to connect science, institutions, and business with European AI infrastructure, backed by about €6.2m including EU support. Health Funding: The EU signed North Macedonia onto EU4Health with retroactive effect from 1 January 2026, opening grants for prevention, cancer and cardiovascular care, mental health, and cross-border health threats. Energy Pipeline: North Macedonia is preparing to integrate a gigawatt-sized solar project pipeline, with approvals for dozens of projects pushing capacity plans well beyond the current fleet. Security Alert: A malware campaign using fake Cisco AnyConnect and Google Update installers (StrikeShark/SharkLoader) has been reported with victims including North Macedonia. Culture & Tourism: Bitola’s former Partizan cinema is set for reconstruction into a multifunctional cultural center, with completion targeted by end-2027.

EU Enlargement Watch: Hungary’s renewed opposition has forced the European Commission to scale back Ukraine and Moldova’s accession plans, with only two negotiation chapters proposed for now (external relations and the internal market) before the summer break. North Macedonia Digital Push: Skopje officially launched the Vezilka project for a national AI center, linking universities, public bodies and the private sector to EU AI infrastructure via a three-year, €6.2m plan. Anti-Corruption: North Macedonia’s State Commission for Prevention of Corruption is investigating the assets of Government Secretary General Igor Janushev after reports that he owns a company in Bulgaria. EU Health Funding: The EU signed an agreement associating North Macedonia with EU4Health, letting health institutions access funding retroactively from 1 January 2026. Energy Pipeline: North Macedonia is preparing to integrate a gigawatt-sized solar project pipeline, with approvals for dozens of projects pushing total planned capacity well beyond the country’s current solar fleet. Cybersecurity Alert: A new malware campaign, StrikeShark, has targeted multiple countries including North Macedonia, using fake Cisco AnyConnect and Google Update installers to deliver SharkLoader and Cobalt Strike access.

AI & Tech Push: Skopje officially launched the Vezilka project, a national AI center linking universities, public bodies and business to EU AI infrastructure, with a ~€6.2m budget over three years. Anti-Corruption Watch: North Macedonia’s anti-corruption commission is investigating Government Secretary General Igor Janushev’s assets after Bulgarian media reports raised questions about a company in Bulgaria. EU Health Funding: The EU signed an agreement associating North Macedonia with EU4Health, letting health entities access funding retroactively from 1 January 2026. Diplomatic Row: Bulgaria says it did not disclose any diplomatic note about family members of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski visiting Bulgaria, while Skopje had demanded an apology. Energy & Region: Srbijagas says its Russia gas supply contract is extended for three more months, warning prices could jump if key interconnectors (including toward North Macedonia) aren’t completed. Environment: Dojran Lake is being considered for Natura 2000 protection, but water-level drops and habitat loss threaten its future. Culture & Tourism: Bitola’s former Partizan cinema will be rebuilt into a multifunctional cultural center, targeted for completion by end-2027. Cybersecurity Alert: A malware campaign using fake Cisco AnyConnect/Google Update installers has reached victims including North Macedonia.

EU Enlargement Roadblock: Hungary blocked a procedural step that would let Ukraine and Moldova open further EU negotiation clusters, putting Kyiv’s mid-July plan at risk. Regional Energy Ties: Serbia’s gas chief warned that delays on interconnectors with Romania and North Macedonia could push gas prices up sharply, as Russia supply arrangements are extended. EU Security Push: The European Commission proposed stronger Europol and Eurojust mandates plus updates to investigation and data rules to tackle cross-border crime and terrorism. North Macedonia Politics: Bulgaria’s parliament speaker met Skopje’s assembly president, urging constitutional EU accession changes and warning about anti-Bulgarian incidents and an arson attack on diplomatic vehicles. Environment Watch: A Bankwatch report says Western Balkans coal plants, including in North Macedonia, breached sulphur dioxide limits at far higher-than-allowed levels in 2025. Local Economy & Life: SPAR opened a new store in Bitola as Viva Fresh Group expands, investing over €45m in North Macedonia. Wildlife Rescue: Skopje Zoo highlighted its role in taking in confiscated or injured animals and calling for dedicated rescue centres.

EU Accession Watch: Hungary has blocked a key procedural step that would move Ukraine and Moldova’s EU talks forward, after EU diplomats say Budapest opposed sending a joint letter to EU institutions—raising fears Kyiv could miss its goal of opening all six negotiation clusters by mid-July. Bulgaria–North Macedonia Relations: Bulgaria’s National Assembly Speaker Mihaela Dotsova met Afrim Gashi and warned of rising anti-Bulgarian incidents, including an arson attack on Bulgarian diplomatic vehicles, while stressing North Macedonia must implement the 2022 EU accession conditions and constitutional changes. Cross-Border Citizen Help: Ombudsmen from Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia agreed to assist people facing problems across borders, covering healthcare, documents, family decisions and education, with a joint yearly human-rights report. Wildlife Rescue in Skopje: Skopje Zoo says it repeatedly takes in confiscated or injured wild animals and calls dedicated rescue centres a better long-term solution. Environment: A Bankwatch report says Western Balkans coal plants breached sulphur dioxide limits in 2025—North Macedonia included—despite legal deadlines. EU Enlargement Polls: New EU Commission survey results show strong public support for EU membership across enlargement partners, including North Macedonia.

Parliamentary Diplomacy: Bulgaria’s National Assembly Speaker Mihaela Dotsova met North Macedonia’s Afrim Gashi in Sofia, warning about rising anti-Bulgarian incidents and demanding “fair punishment” after an arson attack on Bulgarian diplomatic vehicles, while stressing EU accession conditions from 2022 aren’t up for renegotiation. Cross-Border Rights: Ombudsmen from Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia agreed to help citizens facing problems across borders, covering healthcare, civil documents, family decisions and diplomas, with a joint yearly human-rights report. EU Enlargement Mood: A new EU enlargement perception survey says support for EU membership stays high across candidate partners, with North Macedonia above 60% backing and trust in the EU at 79%. Environment & Health: Bankwatch reports Western Balkans coal plants, including in North Macedonia, breached sulphur dioxide limits—6.6 times the allowed level in 2025—despite legal deadlines. Public Safety & Reform Pressure: Opposition SDSM is pushing for an investigation into the North Macedonia cabinet secretary general’s alleged undeclared Bulgarian company links. Culture & Identity: Skopje hosted its eighth Pride march under “Let Everyone Know,” with organisers calling out silence and exclusion.

Bulgaria–North Macedonia Tensions: Bulgaria’s National Assembly Chair Mihaela Dotsova told North Macedonia’s Assembly President Afrim Gashi in Sofia that anti-Bulgarian incidents are happening too often and demanded “fair punishment,” pointing also to the arson attack on Bulgarian diplomatic cars in Skopje. SEECP Parliamentary Session: Dotsova is opening the 13th SEECP Plenary in Sofia, with interparliamentary dialogue and good-neighbourliness on the agenda, while Gashi is set to meet her on improving communication between the two parliaments. EU Accession Pressure: Bulgaria’s President Iliana Iotova said she has serious doubts North Macedonia’s leadership truly wants EU membership, arguing the EU’s 2022 framework is not up for renegotiation. Ohrid Under Threat: Calls are growing to protect the Ohrid region as uncontrolled construction and tourism pressure raise fears Lake Ohrid could face UNESCO “in danger” status. Road Safety Cameras: A “Safe City” traffic camera rollout is showing mixed results, with residents in parts of Skopje complaining that gaps in coverage leave some streets effectively unmonitored. Broadband Update: North Macedonia’s fixed broadband market grew 1.6% in 2025, with AEK reporting modest subscriber gains in Q4 2025. Heatwave Alerts: Europe-wide extreme heat is driving emergency measures, and North Macedonia is among countries under heat alerts.

Ohrid Under Pressure: Calls are growing in North Macedonia to protect the Ohrid region as uncontrolled construction, illegal development and tourism strain threaten its UNESCO-protected status. EU Accession Debate: Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova says she has “serious doubts” Skopje’s leadership truly wants EU membership, pointing to what she calls EU policy being blocked. Diplomatic Arson Fallout: The Council of Europe’s PACE has been alerted to a pattern of attacks on Bulgarian institutions in North Macedonia, citing the arson of Bulgarian diplomatic vehicles in Skopje and earlier incidents. Traffic Safety Watch: A “Safe City” camera system meant to curb deadly road crashes is seeing mixed results, with residents in parts of Skopje saying cameras aren’t installed where they need to be. Sports & National Teams: Ireland named six uncapped players for EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifiers, including games in Skopje against North Macedonia. Business & Tech: North Macedonia’s fixed broadband market grew slightly in Q4 2025, with AEK reporting 555,415 subscribers. Culture & Pride: Skopje Pride returned with its “Let Everyone Know” message, while film news highlights regional projects and awards tied to North Macedonia co-productions. Regional Context: Europe’s heatwave is driving emergency measures across multiple countries, with North Macedonia among those under alerts.

Heatwave Watch: Europe is bracing for a record-breaking June heatwave, with parts of France under the highest alert, schools closing, and alcohol banned in red-alert zones; Spain cancelled a Madrid public screening, Portugal expects up to 42C, and warnings also hit North Macedonia and the Balkans. Pride & Rights: Skopje held its 8th annual Pride march under “Let Everyone Know,” with organisers pushing back against silence and exclusion. Traffic Safety: A “Safe City” camera system is showing mixed results: residents in Butel say cameras aren’t installed on their street, helping reckless driving continue despite claims of reduced fatalities. Telecoms Update: North Macedonia’s fixed broadband market grew modestly in Q4 2025, reaching 555,415 subscribers (+0.92% quarter-on-quarter, +1.61% year-on-year). EU Accession Politics: Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova said she doubts North Macedonia’s leadership truly wants EU membership, arguing the EU expects commitments to be fulfilled. Culture & Film: Transilvania IFF awards included “Lionel” and “Our Father / Oče naš” (with North Macedonia in the co-production). Environment: North Macedonia helped remove an old barrier on the Pčinja River, part of a wider European push that removed hundreds of obsolete river barriers in 2025.

Heatwave Watch: Europe is sweltering again, with France issuing red alerts, banning alcohol in public red-alert areas, and cancelling events; temperatures are set to keep rising as scientists warn heatwaves are becoming more frequent and more intense with global warming. EU Accession Tensions: Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova says North Macedonia’s current leadership raises serious doubts about whether Skopje truly wants EU membership, arguing the EU’s framework was agreed in 2022 and partners expect commitments to be met. Diplomatic Arson Fallout: North Macedonia’s probe into the arson attack on Bulgarian embassy vehicles in Skopje has been upgraded, with prosecutors treating it as endangering people under international protection and seeking detention measures; the EU and Germany also condemned the attack. Language & Rights at EU Level: The European Parliament adopted an amendment urging Skopje to ensure Albanian-language exams in state testing, including the bar exam, are practically implemented under the Ohrid Framework Agreement. EU Roaming Plan: The European Commission is pushing to extend EU roaming rules to six Western Balkan countries, including North Macedonia, though no timeline is set. Sports Diplomacy: Italy’s embassy in North Macedonia highlighted the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto, with a large North Macedonian delegation of over 130 athletes and staff.

EU Accession Pressure: The European Council said it will keep a merit-based approach for Moldova’s EU talks, with no firm timeframes for opening further clusters—an update that keeps the wider enlargement debate in focus for the region. Diplomatic Security Fallout: North Macedonia’s investigation into the June 15 arson on Bulgarian embassy vehicles has been escalated to organized crime and corruption prosecutors, with charges tied to endangering people under international protection. Language Rights at EU Level: The European Parliament adopted an amendment urging North Macedonia to ensure Albanian-language access in state exams, including the bar exam, and to treat student protests as rights-based rather than destabilizing. EU-Western Balkans Push: At a Western Balkans summit, EU leaders—especially Germany—pressed for faster integration, framing enlargement as a geostrategic priority. Border Tensions De-escalated: A planned June 21 civil blockade of three Bulgaria–North Macedonia border crossings was called off after appeals and talks with authorities. Sports & Culture: North Macedonia’s ŽFK Skopje 2014 will face Athlone Town in the Women’s Champions League qualifying semi-final on July 22, while the Italian Embassy in Skopje highlighted sports diplomacy ahead of the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto. Identity & EU Guarantees: PM Hristijan Mickoski called for EU guarantees on Macedonian identity, language and culture, warning of a long struggle to protect national interests.

EU Accession Talks: The European Council said it will use a merit-based approach for Moldova’s EU negotiations and set no firm timelines for opening further clusters, with the next steps expected via unanimous EU decisions. Diplomatic Security: The EU and Germany condemned the arson attack on Bulgarian embassy vehicles in Skopje, while North Macedonia’s probe has been upgraded to organized-crime prosecutors. EU Pressure on Rights: The European Parliament backed calls for Albanian-language exams in North Macedonia, urging full implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement and equal access to state exams. EU Enlargement Politics: MEPs and EU officials continue to debate stalled reforms and conditions for North Macedonia’s path to EU membership, including language and identity guarantees. Border Tensions: A planned June 21 civil blockade of Bulgaria–North Macedonia border crossings was called off after appeals from Bulgarian diplomats and talks with North Macedonia’s institutions. Sports—Local Spotlight: Athlone Town will face North Macedonia’s ŽFK Skopje 2014 in the Women’s Champions League qualifying semi-final on July 22. Culture: A North Macedonia–Croatia–Slovenia co-production, “Ruins,” is among the documentary nominees competing for the Golden Goblet at Shanghai.

EU Accession Talks: The EU Council set no new deadlines for Moldova’s next steps, saying progress will follow a merit-based approach after the June 15 start of accession negotiations and the opening of the fundamentals cluster. Diplomatic Security in Skopje: The EU strongly condemned the arson attack on Bulgarian embassy vehicles in Skopje, while North Macedonia’s probe has been upgraded to an organized crime and corruption prosecutor unit. Border Tensions De-escalate: The Macedonia Foundation called off a planned June 21 civil blockade of three Bulgaria–North Macedonia border crossings after appeals from Bulgaria’s ambassador and talks with North Macedonia’s foreign ministry. Language Rights in Focus: The European Parliament adopted an amendment urging North Macedonia to ensure Albanian-language access in state exams, including the bar exam, and to implement the Ohrid Framework Agreement in practice. Sports & Culture: UEFA’s futsal draw put North Macedonia in a group with Spain and Finland; and MRT confirmed Ana Stojanoska will represent North Macedonia at JESC 2026 in Malta.

EU Condemns Skopje Arson: The EU Delegation and Germany’s ambassador in Skopje strongly condemned the June 15 arson attack on vehicles outside the Bulgarian Embassy, praising the swift arrest and urging accountability. Organized-Crime Probe: North Macedonia’s prosecutors transferred the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption, opening an investigation for “endangering persons under international protection,” with detention sought for the suspect. Border Protest Called Off: The Macedonia Foundation cancelled a planned June 21 civil blockade of three Bulgaria–North Macedonia border crossings after appeals from Bulgaria’s ambassador and talks with Skopje officials. EU Pressure on Language Rights: The European Parliament adopted an amendment urging North Macedonia to ensure Albanian-language exams in state testing, including the bar exam, and to implement the Ohrid Framework Agreement in practice. EU Reform Warning: A new European Parliament report warns North Macedonia is lagging on rule of law, corruption, and judicial independence, citing political pressure on courts and weaker anti-corruption penalties. Energy Upgrade: ESM signed a World Bank grant to prepare the REK Bitola 1 cogeneration plant and expand Bitola’s district heating network. Sports Diplomacy: Italy’s embassy in North Macedonia hosted events around the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto, highlighting a large North Macedonian delegation of over 130 athletes and staff.

EU Accession Pressure: The European Parliament adopted a North Macedonia progress report urging constitutional changes to unlock the first negotiating cluster, while keeping language on the Bulgaria-North Macedonia historical commission and stressing rule-of-law, judicial reform, and anti-corruption as key sticking points. Language Rights at Exams: MEPs backed an amendment calling for Albanian-language use in North Macedonia state exams, including the bar exam, and urged authorities to treat related student protests as rights-based, not destabilizing. Bulgaria Diplomatic Tensions: The EU Delegation and Germany condemned the June 15 arson attack on Bulgarian embassy vehicles in Skopje, with officials calling for suspects to be brought to justice and for cooperation to continue. Border Protest Called Off: The Macedonia Foundation cancelled a planned June 21 peaceful blockade of Bulgaria–North Macedonia border crossings after appeals from the Bulgarian embassy and talks with Skopje officials. Energy & Industry: ESM signed a World Bank grant for preparatory work on the REK Bitola 1 cogeneration plant, aimed at modernising the lignite complex and expanding district heating. Sports (Local Interest): North Macedonia’s ŽFK Skopje 2014 will face Athlone Town in the Women’s Champions League first qualifying round on July 22.

EU Accession Pressure: The European Parliament adopted a report on North Macedonia’s EU path, urging constitutional changes to open the first negotiating cluster and keeping focus on rule of law, judicial reform and anti-corruption. Language Rights at Exams: MEPs backed an amendment calling for Albanian-language exams in North Macedonia, including the bar exam, and urged Skopje to implement the Ohrid Framework Agreement in practice. Bulgaria Tensions: Bulgarian officials and MEPs again tied Skopje’s EU progress to Sofia’s conditions, while the Parliament rejected removing text on the Bulgaria–North Macedonia historical commission. Court Ruling in Tetovo: A North Macedonian court restored Yugoslav-era street names in Tetovo, overturning 2007 renamings linked to Albanian historical figures. Energy Deal: ESM signed a World Bank grant for preparatory work on the REK Bitola 1 cogeneration plant and district heating expansion. Regional Mobility: North Macedonia approved joint border checks with Albania at Qafë Thanë to reduce travel waiting times. Sports: Athlone Town will face ŽFK Skopje 2014 in the Women’s Champions League qualifying mini-tournament semi-final on July 22.