EU Financial Regulation and Policy in Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of

Introduction

The European Union (EU) has been working closely with Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of, to prepare it for accession since 2005. The Accession Partnership adopted by the Council in 2008 aims to support the country’s preparations and align its legislation with EU acquis.

Progress and Challenges

• Implementation of Operational Programmes: Macedonia made progress in implementing operational programmes for regional development and human resources development, according to the European Commission’s 2011 Report.
• Inadequate Expertise and Institutional Coordination: However, the report noted that inadequate expertise and insufficient institutional coordination led to considerable delays in the implementation of IPA components concerning these programmes.

EU Acquis in Regional Policy

The EU acquis in the field of regional policy comprises framework regulations and implementing regulations that define the rules applicable to the development, approval, and implementation of Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund. These programmes are negotiated and agreed with the Commission but their implementation is the responsibility of Member States.

Commission Evaluation

The Commission evaluated the progress made by Macedonia in regional development and coordination of structural funds. While some progress was noted, additional efforts were required to strengthen ownership of programme implementation by the authorities.

Key Documents

• Commission Report (2011): on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• Commission Report (2010): on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• Commission Report (2009): on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• Enlargement Strategy and Progress Reports 2011

Last Updated

This information was last updated on December 15, 2011.