News from CSOs

  • Metamorphosis took part in a public hearing regarding key laws of the digital realm

    Today, June 19, 2025, the Committee on transport, digital transformation, environment and spatial planning held its 35th session. A public debate was held at the session on the topic “Draft Law Reform Package for the Digital Transformation of the Republic of North Macedonia,” and the following draft laws were reviewed and discussed: Draft Law on Electronic Communications; Draft Law on the Security of Network and Information Systems; Draft Law on Archives and Archival Activities; and Draft Law Amending and Supplementing the Law on Electronic Documents, Electronic Identification and Trust Services.
    In addition to the members and deputy members of the Commission, MPs, the Minister of Digital Transformation, and representatives of line ministries, agencies, constituent bodies, and the business and academic communities, the public hearing was also attended by representatives of civil society. Filip Stojanovski, Partnership and Resource Development Director, and Marijana Jancheska-Ugarkovikj, Project Manager, presented the recommendations and suggestions of the Metamorphosis Foundation regarding the draft laws under discussion.

    In her address, Ms. Jancheska-Ugarkovikj emphasized that the Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society supports the process of adopting the package of four laws and welcomes the Parliament’s initiative to include civil society organizations in the process of structured discussions to improve the draft text of the proposed laws.
    In her address, Jancheska emphasized that it is important that all envisaged legal solutions are aligned with European regulations, but also adapted to the local context in order to respond to the real challenges of citizens, institutions, and the private sector. She also pointed out the need for clear obligations for the implementation of security measures by institutions, transparency in the processing of sensitive information, accountability of service providers and interoperability of technical solutions.
    The Metamorphosis Foundation believes that digital transformation is not just a technological tool, but a prerequisite for efficient, transparent, and accountable administration. To this end, it is necessary to systematically involve civil society organizations and experts in all phases of reforms–from design to evaluation–as well as invest in the capacities of public administration and promote digital literacy among all categories of citizens.

  • Developing Hospitality in the Shar Mountain Region

    Developing Tourism in the Shar Mountain Region
    In the heart of Shar Mountain, at the scenic ski center Popova Shapka, a training session on tourism and hospitality gathered local small business owners, aspiring young entrepreneurs, and community members seeking to strengthen their role in the growing tourism sector. The session aimed to boost local capacity in customer service, professionalism, and sustainable business practices.
    One of the event’s highlights was the participation of Veronica C., an American volunteer with over 40 years of hands-on experience in the hospitality industry. Her presence brought warmth, insight, and a wealth of knowledge to the group. From managing guest expectations to maintaining quality standards, Veronica offered real-world lessons and examples.
    The training was designed to be interactive, encouraging open dialogue, group discussion, and reflection on how hospitality can evolve to meet the needs of modern travelers while preserving the local character of the Shar region. The sessions highlighted the importance of offering tips on communication, attention to detail, and the importance of storytelling in creating authentic guest experiences.
    The event didn’t just focus on technical skills; it also reinforced a sense of pride in local identity and the unique value that community-based tourism brings to the Shar Mountains. Attendees left with new strategies, renewed motivation, and a stronger network of peers working toward a shared goal: creating quality experiences that welcome visitors while sustaining the beauty and traditions of the region.
    This activity is part of the continuous efforts to develop quality and sustainable tourism, and was implemented by the Center for Education and Development – CED, with financial support from PONT.

  • Blagica Petreski on current topics in Win-Win with Olivera Trajkovska

    ❗In its first year, the Government is showing a moderate pace in implementation, while some of the structural reform policies are in direct contradiction to the proclaimed goals.What has been achieved, what are the risks, and what are the expectations?Our very own @blagica_beba_petreski debated these questions on Win-Win with Olivera Trajkovska.Monitoring of government promises is supported by Civica Mobilitas.

  • Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science

    ✒️ Today, 13 June 2025, we established a framework for professional and analytical collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science.The cooperation will focus on several key areas:✅ Preparation of analyses and proposals for improving education policies;✅ Support in developing indicators and mechanisms to monitor the effects of policies;✅ Exchange of data, information, research findings, and expert opinions of mutual interest;✅ Organization of events for public promotion and education related to educational challenges and solutions.

  • Results of Government’s promises monitoring presented at a press conference

    KOMPAS: Monitoring Government Promises 2024–2028How much progress has been made in fulfilling government promises in the first year of the mandate?
    📊 Today we presented the findings from the first year of monitoring through the KOMPAS platform, which tracks 139 promises across five areas: socio-economy, education, healthcare, youth, and gender equality.🔗 The platform is available here 👉 https://kompas.financethink.mk/📥 Read the full press release here 👉 https://shorturl.at/Z3JAn
    Civica Mobilitas | MCEC – Macedonian Civic Education Center | Youth Educational Forum – YEF | Embassy of Switzerland in North Macedonia | Macedonian Medical Association

  • Moderate fulfillment of government promises, with substantial variation across sectors

    Press Release
    KOMPAS: Monitoring of Government Promises (2024-2028)

    Finance Think, in partnership with the Macedonian Center for Civic Education, the Macedonian Medical Association, and the Youth Educational Forum, presents the upgraded monitoring framework KOMPAS for systematic tracking of the implementation of government promises for the period 2024–2028. This framework builds upon the previous version that mapped economic progress during the period 2020–2024.
    The KOMPAS platform (https://kompas.financethink.mk) tracks the implementation of a total of 139 promises, distributed across five priority areas: socio-economy, education, health, youth, and gender equality.
    Overall progress: Moderate fulfillment with significant differences across sectors
    Of all the promises, 18 (13%) have been fully fulfilled so far, while 51 (37%) are in the direction of being fulfilled. The greatest progress has been made in the field of education, where 24% of the promises have been fulfilled and 70% are in the direction of being fulfilled. Next are socio-economic policies and youth policies, each with 9% of promises fulfilled. Implementation in the health sector shows a more moderate pace, with three promises fulfilled and five in direction of being fulfilled. The least progress has been observed in the area of gender equality, where there is neither an active nor fulfilled promise (Graph 1).
    Graph 1: Fulfillment by area

    Socio-economic policies: Partial progress, but with potential risks
    Out of 43 mapped promises, 4 have been fulfilled and 12 are in direction of fulfillment. The fulfilled ones include: unchanged personal income and profit tax rates, non-taxed reinvested profits, and an increase in pensions by 5,000 denars. Those in direction of fulfillment mostly relate to stable finances contributing to macroeconomic stability such as GDP growth, inflation control, reduction of public debt and unemployment, increased investments, and new job creation.
    From a fulfillment perspective, although the number of fully met promises is relatively small, the ones in direction of fulfillment are satisfactory. A greater cause for concern are the promises whose fulfillment is moving in the opposite direction, particularly as they represent key structural reforms. These include promises related to reducing the budget deficit below 3% of GDP, decreasing the grey economy, increasing productivity, supporting exports, and moderate wage growth in the public sector.
    An additional challenge lies in aligning government priorities with the real needs and expectations of citizens. According to the latest research “What is key to improving quality of life?”, citizens identify that care services for the elderly and children (nursing homes and kindergartens) are considered insufficiently accessible and often expensive. Meanwhile, the quality of road infrastructure and public transport is rated the poorest. At the same time, the greatest support is given to promises for creating new jobs, capital investments, and expanding childcare capacities. On the other hand, support for increasing wages in public administration is low, with a high percentage expressing negative views, and the 16.8% increase in 2024 even exceeds the promised increase tied to economic growth.
    In the upcoming period, it is necessary to maintain focus on the promises in direction of fulfillment, to complete them within a reasonable timeframe. Special attention should be given to promises that started positively by the end of 2024 but show risk of deviation in Q1 2025—such as inflation rate and stronger revenue collection in the state budget—as well as better alignment of government priorities with citizens’ expectations and real needs.
    Education: Highest degree of implementation
    Of 37 mapped promises, 9 have been fulfilled and 26 are in the direction of fulfillment, indicating strong activity dynamics. Promises that have been fulfilled or are in direction of being fulfilled include increasing the education budget (to 3.79% of GDP), revising the Basic Education Concept, support for successful schools, and expansion of educational inclusion measures. Although initial steps have been taken in higher education reform, implementation in this segment remains the weakest. Some promises, such as introducing the STEM concept and opening a teacher training center, have not yet been fulfilled. Some promises have not been transposed into the strategic documents of the Ministry of Education nor have been revised and reformulated to align with current policies, indicating the need for greater coherence between the Government Program and the system’s actual capacities. Still, the establishment of monitoring indicators is a positive step toward more efficient implementation tracking.
    Health: Limited progress with important beginnings
    Of 31 promises, 3 have been fulfilled and 5 are in direction of fulfillment. These include: increasing the capitation point for primary care doctors, abolishing economic director positions, and introducing nine new generic medicines to the positive list after a long time. The process of employing around 1,018 healthcare workers previously engaged under service contracts in public health institutions has begun. Although the process is ongoing, it faces some administrative challenges that are slowing it down. Procedures have also begun for employing private specialist doctors in public health. At the same time, projects are being implemented for renovating several health institutions and procuring new medical equipment for diagnostics and treatment in multiple health centers.
    However, the challenges remain significant: fundamental reform of primary healthcare and other levels of the health system, regionalization of hospitals, shortage of medical staff, digital transformation, and establishing a sustainable system for long-term care. Additionally, citizen perceptions reveal significant misalignment between expectations and reality. Citizens report limited access to specialist healthcare, inadequate infrastructure quality, and high out-of-pocket costs for medicines and services. These findings suggest that health sector measures must be better aligned with citizens’ real needs, with a focus on improving accessibility, quality, and financial protection. The goal is to establish a modern, efficient, and sustainable health system with clear standards, improved infrastructure, and human resource capacity, which will meet citizens’ expectations and deliver quality healthcare at all levels.
    Youth: Institutional progress, insufficient implementation of specific measures
    Fifteen promises are being monitored, of which 2 have been fulfilled, 8 are in direction of fulfillment, and 5 have not been fulfilled. Although a new Ministry of Social Policy, Demography, and Youth has been established, along with a Center for Youth Research—representing significant institutional innovation—the announced specific promises, such as 250-euro vouchers for student electronic devices, a youth standard mobile app, or the “Buy a Home for Youth” project, have not yet been fulfilled.
    On the other hand, initiatives have begun to renovate student dormitories and increase financial support for young farmers. These results point to the need for clear deadlines and strengthened institutional capacity. Furthermore, prioritization of measures should align with the real needs of citizens and youth, such as 80% support for improved housing conditions, 63% for the “Buy a Home for Youth” measure, and 73% for financial support to young entrepreneurs, among others.
    The overall action is supported by the Government of Switzerland through Civica Mobilitas. Civica Mobilitas is a project of the Government of Switzerland, implemented by MCIC, NIRAS, and FCG. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Swiss Government, Civica Mobilitas, or the implementing organizations.

  • A study on productivity at the event of the Employers’ Organization

    ✅ Today, at the event organized by @Organization of Employers of Macedonia – ORM, we presented the study📊 “Improving Business Productivity: A Comprehensive Analysis of Productivity and Its Drivers in Firms in North Macedonia” 📖🔍 The study offers an in-depth insight into the state of firm productivity through an analysis of total factor productivity.🎯 Key external and internal determinants of productivity have been identified.The panel discussion enriched the event with views and perspectives from high-level representatives from the government, business sector, and academia:🔹 Vladanka Trajkoska, President of ORM🔹 Marjan Risteski, Deputy Minister for Economy and Labor🔹 Angel Dimitrov, President of the Assembly of ORM🔹 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dejan Stankov, Director of the State Statistical Office🔹 Sasho Klekovski, Director of the Health Insurance Fund of Macedonia🔹 Dr. Daniela Bojadzieva, Faculty of Economics at UKIM💡 The goal is to encourage the creation of effective policies and measures to boost productivity.The study was prepared by Finance Think for the needs of ORM and financially supported by the International Labour Organization, Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) 3.

  • First Meeting of the National Consultative Mechanism for the Reform Agenda (NCM-RA)

    The implementation of the Reform Agenda in North Macedonia requires an inclusive approach and input from all relevant stakeholders to ensure its successful implementation. To this end, the European Policy Institute – EPI, in cooperation with the Ministry for European Affairs, on May 19, organized the First Meeting of the National Consultative Mechanism for the Reform Agenda 2024-2027–a new national platform that enables a structured, transparent, and inclusive evidence-based dialogue between state institutions, civil society organizations, chambers of commerce, academia, and other relevant factors for the implementation and monitoring of the Reform Agenda within the framework of the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
    Mila Josifovska Danilovska and Marijana Jancheska-Ugarkovikj, from the Metamorphosis Foundation, participated in the meeting. Jancheska-Ugarkovikj presented the findings of the Metamorphosis research on the progress made so far in the field of digitalization, as a key area in the Reform Agenda. The research presents the results from 2025 divided into key sub-areas of digitalization: digitalization and cybersecurity, as well as the planned activities for 2026 and 2027.
    Jancheska-Ugarkovikj, in addition to presenting the achievements, shared with the attendees the recommendations that emerged from the public policy document. Greater inclusiveness is needed, especially in digital accessibility for people with disabilities, in accordance with the National Strategy 2023–2030. Furthermore, the involvement of civil society organizations and experts in all phases of the envisaged reforms should be strengthened–from design to evaluation, while transparency and timely communication should also be ensured when creating regulations. In order to implement the commitments of the Reform Agenda in depth, it is necessary to invest in training and technical support for the administration for efficient implementation, as well as to adapt laws to the local context, instead of mechanically adopting European regulations. At the same time, digital literacy should be actively encouraged among all categories of citizens.
    Digitalization is not just a technical tool–it is a prerequisite for efficient, transparent, and accountable administration. As the Metamorphosis Foundation, we remain committed to following the process and contributing to reforms that will be in the interest of all citizens.

  • Council of Europe adopts international convention on protecting lawyers

    The Council of Europe has adopted the first-ever international treaty aiming to protect the profession of lawyer. This is to respond to increasing reports of attacks on the practice of the profession, whether in the form of harassment, threats or attacks, or interference with the exercise of professional duties (for…

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