AGP Executive Report

Rail & Suburban Transport: North Macedonia plans a rail link from Skopje to Petrovec airport, with construction set to start in spring 2027 and a planned trip time of 8–11 minutes, alongside new suburban routes and procurement of multiple-units and electric freight locomotives. UEFA Nations League: Switzerland opened its League B campaign with a 3-0 win over North Macedonia in Skopje, while Scotland drew 0-0 with Slovenia as Sebastien Pocognoli began his tenure. EU Integration & Diplomacy: North Macedonia’s PM Mickoski told the UN that European integration should stay merit-based and that bilateral issues shouldn’t keep shifting the goalposts. Business & Tech: Iute Group launched iuteMarket inside its Myiute app in Albania and North Macedonia, letting users browse and buy from partner merchants with in-app financing. Culture: Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski presented his documentary on the Kochani nightclub tragedy in Sofia, focusing on victims’ stories and solidarity.

UEFA Nations League: Spain kicked off its title defence with a 3-2 comeback win over England at Wembley, with Lamine Yamal scoring early, Harry Kane missing a penalty, and Mikel Oyarzabal netting the winner; Regional Football: In League B, Switzerland opened with a 3-0 win over North Macedonia, while Scotland and Slovenia played out a 0-0 draw; Scotland’s New Era: Scotland began the Sébastien Pocognoli era with a goalless draw in Slovenia, setting up matches against North Macedonia and Switzerland next; EU Integration at UN: North Macedonia’s PM Hristijan Mickoski told the UN General Assembly that EU accession rules must stay predictable and merit-based, warning against shifting goalposts; EU Parliament Links: MEPs Ivaylo Valchev and Kristian Vigenin discussed the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee, including calls to keep minority and rights issues on track; Sports Governance: Switzerland dropped Breel Embolo from Nations League duty after fresh reporting tied to past fake COVID documents, while captain Granit Xhaka also stayed out amid his own case.

EU Integration & Rule of Law: North Macedonia PM Mickoski told the UN General Assembly that European integration should stay merit-based, with rules applied predictably and without “moving goalposts,” warning that shifting criteria erodes public trust. EU Parliament Dialogue: MEP Ivaylo Valchev said the EU–North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee included a push for cross-border cooperation in humanitarian cases, while MEP Kristian Vigenin argued North Macedonia’s EU path is not a bilateral issue with Bulgaria. Regional Economy: An IMF paper says deeper EU–Western Balkans economic integration could lift GDP per capita by 8–15% over the long run, focusing on goods, logistics, and services barriers. Sports—Nations League: Scotland begin a new era under coach Sebastien Pocognoli with a Nations League opener vs Slovenia, and Switzerland’s Nations League campaign is hit by the fallout from the fake COVID-document scandal involving Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo. North Macedonia in Focus (Sports): Switzerland play North Macedonia in the Nations League, while Nigeria’s chess Olympiad teams face North Macedonia in Round 10.

EU Accession & Diplomacy: Bulgaria’s foreign ministry says North Macedonia must fulfil EU conditions and start the “necessary changes” to move forward, while Bulgaria’s FM Velislava Petrova argues North Macedonia’s accession should be handled within EU institutions and rules, not as a bilateral dispute. European Parliament Pressure: MEP Ivaylo Valchev says the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee included a cross-border cooperation clause for humanitarian cases and that he will push for the Iva Mihaylova case to be named in the EP’s next North Macedonia report; MEP Kristian Vigenin adds that European integration is not a bilateral matter. Sports—Swiss Squad Shock: Switzerland dropped captain Granit Xhaka and striker Breel Embolo from Nations League duty after revelations tied to forged COVID documents, with Switzerland set to open against North Macedonia. Local Society: A new report highlights North Macedonia’s shrinking rural schools as falling birth rates and emigration force closures and mergers. Business & Connectivity: Azerbaijan and North Macedonia discussed expanding trade, investment and energy cooperation, while Pakistan’s minister stressed regional connectivity at a Baku forum.

EU Accession Row: Bulgaria says North Macedonia must fulfil EU negotiation conditions and start necessary changes, arguing accession is an EU matter handled through European institutions, not bilateral talks. UNGA Diplomacy: Dozens of delegations walked out as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the UN General Assembly, with North Macedonia among those listed among the absent or departing delegations. Energy & Investment: Envision Energy reached financial close on the first phase of the Štip Wind Farm (131.25 MW), positioning it as North Macedonia’s largest wind project and a major step in the country’s renewables push. Security & Crime: North Macedonia detained 13 people in a €6m cigarette smuggling case, involving shipments from Greece and alleged illegal unloading inside the country. Sports Cooperation: Azerbaijan and North Macedonia signed a memorandum to expand cooperation in sports, including exchanges and joint initiatives. Border Traffic: Heavy truck traffic is building toward Türkiye at Kapitan Andreevo and Lesovo, with lane restrictions on key routes due to repairs.

Obituary: Macedonian animation pioneer Tonkica Mitrovska has died in Skopje at 78, leaving behind decades of work at Vardar Film’s Skopje Animation School and more than 20 animated films. Crime & Justice: North Macedonia detained 13 people in a €6m cigarette smuggling case, with customs and police officers among those held; investigators say trucks entered from Greece, cigarettes were unloaded locally, then left for Serbia while records still claimed the cargo was in transit. Sports Diplomacy: North Macedonia and Azerbaijan signed a sports cooperation memorandum during a visit by Sports Minister Borko Ristovski, including talks on exchanges and joint initiatives. EU Integration: President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova met European Parliament rapporteur Thomas Waitz, discussing EU accession momentum and concerns about vetoes and bilateral conditions. Energy Transition: Envision Energy reached financial close on the Štip Wind Farm’s first phase (131.25 MW), a major step toward expanding North Macedonia’s wind capacity. Football: UEFA Nations League returns with North Macedonia in League B, and the national team is set to host Switzerland after a winless run.

EU Accession Talks: North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova met European Parliament rapporteur Thomas Waitz, urging faster unblocking of EU accession and arguing that bilateral issues and vetoes tied to identity, history and language should not derail the formal process. Sports Diplomacy: North Macedonia and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum on sports cooperation during a visit led by Sports Minister Borko Ristovski. Regional Security: Kosovo asked to join the US-backed Adriatic security group as a full member, citing past attacks; the group already includes North Macedonia. Visa Policy: Ireland published a list of 16 countries whose citizens are exempt from visa application fees in 2026, including North Macedonia. Football—Nations League: Scotland’s Nations League campaign kicks off with Group B1 matches that include North Macedonia; meanwhile, Hearts’ James Wilson and Rangers’ Findlay Curtis have been shifted to Scotland U21 duty for minutes. Weather: A cold spell brought the first snow to parts of the Balkans, with reports of early snowfall in nearby regions.

EU Diplomacy at the UN: More than 50 UN member states and the EU backed a joint call for Russia to agree to a full, immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, while the US stayed out of the statement. North Macedonia–Bulgaria Ties: North Macedonia’s future ambassador to Bulgaria, Krum Efremov, said Skopje wants “de-escalation” and a better climate, but flagged Bulgaria’s obstruction of EU accession talks as the biggest challenge. Renewables in North Macedonia: Envision Energy says it will supply 21 large wind turbines for the Štip Wind Farm, a project reaching financial close and set to expand the country’s wind capacity dramatically. Weather Watch: A cold spell brought the first snow of the season to parts of the Balkans, including higher areas in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Kosovo. Football Focus: The UEFA Nations League kicks off with North Macedonia in League B, while Scotland’s new coach Sebastien Pocognoli begins his Nations League run that includes a trip to North Macedonia.

EU Rule of Law Talks: EU ministers debated the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework and held a rule-of-law dialogue covering candidate countries including North Macedonia, as part of preparations for the October European Council. Human Rights Pressure: Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova briefed the UN human rights chief on alleged rights violations against Bulgarians in North Macedonia, including the Iva Mihaylova medical-treatment dispute. Energy Transition: Envision Energy says it has reached financial close for the Štip Wind Farm in North Macedonia, supplying 21 large turbines for a 131.25MW first phase, with construction now underway. Diplomacy: North Macedonia’s foreign minister Timcho Mucunski met Mongolia’s Battsetseg Batmunkh at the UN General Assembly sidelines and signed a protocol on cooperation and consultations. Football Spotlight: Scotland’s new coach Sebastien Pocognoli named a Nations League squad that includes North Macedonia opponents, with fixtures featuring Scotland vs North Macedonia in the coming international window. Regional Security Training: Montenegro hosted Common Challenge 2026, with North Macedonia among the six countries training for mountain warfare and rescue.

EU Rule of Law & Budget Talks: EU ministers met in Brussels to push progress on the next 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework and to hold the annual rule-of-law dialogue, including discussions on Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. EU Digital Education: The European Commission released reports on how generative AI can both help and hinder learning, while warning that digital gaps still affect access, support and learning environments across schools. North Macedonia–EU Accession Pressure: Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said North Macedonia is ready to find a way out of the EU accession deadlock, arguing the process should focus on negotiations and alignment rather than identity disputes. Regional Security Training: Montenegro hosted Common Challenge 2026, a mountain warfare and rescue exercise with forces from North Macedonia, the US, Austria, Slovenia and Spain. Football Nations League Focus: Slovenia’s Benjamin Šeško withdrew from international duty with a shin injury, affecting Nations League plans that include matches involving North Macedonia. Diplomacy Watch: Kosovo closed its Consulate General in Struga, while Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić met UN leadership in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly debate.

EU Accession Deadlock: Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski says North Macedonia is ready to find a way out of the EU accession stalemate, arguing the country aligns with EU foreign and security policy and pointing to positive signals from Brussels. Diplomacy at UNGA: Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova says the UN high-level meeting sets the political direction and should push active diplomacy and peace. Regional Ties: Kosovo has closed its Consulate General in Struga, with services shifted to the embassy in Skopje. Sports—Nations League Focus: Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn with a shin injury, ruling him out of matches including against North Macedonia; Scotland’s squad also reshuffled as players withdraw and Kristi Montgomery gets a call-up. Health & Justice—Xhaka Case: Swiss captain Granit Xhaka admits obtaining a fake COVID-19 vaccination certificate and faces an investigation, with potential criminal consequences. Border Watch: Bulgaria’s food safety inspectors detained over two tonnes of yogurt from North Macedonia at Gyueshevo due to certificate/label discrepancies.

Football & Accountability: Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has admitted he used a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate in 2022, apologised for the “mistake,” and said he will cooperate with authorities; prosecutors in Lucerne are investigating, and Switzerland has removed him from the upcoming Nations League matches that include games against North Macedonia. Sports Updates: Manchester United striker Benjamin Šeško has withdrawn from Slovenia’s Nations League squad due to a shin problem, meaning he will miss fixtures that also involve North Macedonia and Switzerland. Border Watch: Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency detained more than two tonnes of yogurt from North Macedonia at the Gyueshevo border after discrepancies between certificate information and product markings; the goods were sent back the same day. Culture & Memory: Director Milcho Manchevski will attend the Sofia DocuMental premiere of his new documentary “Good People,” focused on the Pulse nightclub fire in Kocani that killed 63 people and injured more than 150.

EU Enlargement Pressure: At the Friends of the Western Balkans meeting in New York, Minister Macinka said enlargement must be judged by results, warning North Macedonia has “been waiting for too long” and urging concrete steps. Diplomacy: Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said North Macedonia is ready to discuss a minorities plan with Bulgaria, but wants EU participation; Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski also met Jordan’s Ayman Safadi in New York and signed an MoU for political consultations. Border & Food Safety: Bulgaria’s BFSA detained over two tonnes of North Macedonian yogurt at Gyueshevo after certificate-to-label discrepancies; the shipment was sent back. Education: North Macedonia is closing 26 schools as part of class “optimization” due to declining student numbers, sparking safety and access concerns for rural families. Public Health: West Nile cases are surging, with at least 60 confirmed local cases and eight deaths this year, mainly around Skopje. Sports (Regional): Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka withdrew from Nations League duty after admitting he used a forged COVID certificate, meaning Switzerland will play without him against North Macedonia.

US-Iran Escalation: The Iran–US standoff keeps heating up as Trump warns of major action after Tehran and the Houthis signal “painful strikes,” with reports of black smoke near Riyadh airport amid renewed attacks. Balkan Chess: Bulgaria beat North Macedonia 3.5–0.5 at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, while Bulgaria’s women’s team also lost to China. EU Engagement: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will skip Serbia and Bosnia on a Western Balkans tour, but will visit Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia to meet leaders and tour EU-funded projects. North Macedonia in the Spotlight: A rail-corridor update says around 40% progress has been made on North Macedonia’s Rail Corridor 8 section from Beljakovce to Kriva Palanka. Sports & Nations League: Scotland squad news keeps North Macedonia in focus as Nations League fixtures approach, with multiple players linked to matches involving North Macedonia. Local Economy: Albania’s firms reportedly invested €143m abroad in six months, with Kosovo and North Macedonia named among key destinations.

EU Accession & Diplomacy: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, while skipping Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina due to upcoming elections. Rail Infrastructure: Around 40% of work is done on North Macedonia’s Rail Corridor 8 section from Beljakovce to Kriva Palanka, with the goal of reaching 50% by year-end. Energy Support: Ukraine says Kyiv and 21 regions received over 2,300 tons of energy equipment from partners in 27 countries, including North Macedonia, via 188 shipments. Sports (EuroVolley): Poland and Germany reached the EuroVolley 2026 quarterfinals; Ukraine’s group included a 3-0 win over North Macedonia. Local Politics: North Macedonia’s opposition is urging a deeper probe into Independence Day spending. Regional Security: The U.S. plans to redirect $52m in military aid from Europe and the Middle East to Latin America, including Colombia, Panama, Peru and Ecuador.

EU Western Balkans Tour: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, skipping Serbia and Bosnia due to elections. Rail Corridor 8: Work on North Macedonia’s Beljakovce–Kriva Palanka section is about 40% done, with the aim to reach 50% by year-end. Energy Infrastructure: Ukraine received over 2,300 tons of energy equipment this summer, with North Macedonia listed among the partner countries supporting deliveries. Regional Sports: North Macedonia’s volleyball presence is noted in EuroVolley 2026 group results, while the tournament continues through Sept. 27. Local Economy & Policy: A week of coverage also touched on North Macedonia’s fuel VAT cut and ongoing debates around independence-day spending and investment rules. International Security: The US announced a $52m shift of military aid away from Europe and the Middle East toward Latin America, reshaping regional priorities.