институт за европска политика скопје
|

Conference: The Stabilisation and Association Agreement MK-ЕU: Twenty Years and Onward

byИнститут за европска политика

The European Policy Institute organizes a conference  „Conference: The Stabilisation and Association Agreement MK-ЕU: Twenty Years and Onward“ on the 28th of April at 10h on the Zoom platform.

The conference is held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the SAA between the Republic of Macedonia and the EU (9th of April 2001).

At the same time, the European Policy Institute (EPI) is marking its tenth anniversary. EPI’s first activity ten years ago was the Conference on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of signing the SAA.

In recent Macedonian history, many significant events took place in the first years of the decades. This year our country marks 30 years of independence and 20 years since the signing of the Ohrid Framework Agreement.  A year ago, our country, now North Macedonia, became a NATO member.

The Republic of Macedonia was the first country in the region, which signed an SAA and the country with the longest candidate status – 16 years. Despite the name change in order to join NATO and EU, against the expectations, the EU did not open the negotiations with North Macedonia, due to the unfounded blockade by Bulgaria, even though a new and more complex accession methodology was previously established.

In the meantime, initiatives were put forward for other forms of association between the countries of the region and the EU as an alternative to membership – such as the European Economic Area, which have largely been rejected by the regional leaders and the broader public, insisting on membership. However, there was no wider debate on these ideas.

The SAA remains the legal basis for the relations between North Macedonia and the EU. The Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters entered into force in June 2001, while the SAA entered into force on 1 April 2004. The institutional framework established by the SAA remains the main institutional framework of the relations between our country and the EU.

Under such conditions, and especially considering the slowed down and more complex accession process, as well as the “new ideas” for alternatives to membership, it is worthwhile to revisit the SAA and to evaluate its benefits and opportunities.

Consequently, the objective of the Conference is to:

– Analyse the benefits, but also the untapped opportunities and potentials of the SAA in the relations with the EU and

– Point out the ways forward for the implementation of the Agreement.

Agenda
Register for the event

Selected papers by EPI on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement:

The post Conference: The Stabilisation and Association Agreement MK-ЕU: Twenty Years and Onward appeared first on EPI.

Продолжи со читање

  • Journalists Decode EU Institutions, Acquis, and Enlargement Policies

    On 16–17 October 2026, the European Policy Institute (EPI) organized the first training module under the project “Decode the EU – Communicating EU policies together” in Strumica. The two-day workshop brought together 10 journalists from diverse media outlets, aiming to strengthen analytical, evidence-based reporting on North Macedonia’s EU accession journey.The…

  • MoU with the British Business Association in North Macedonia

    🤝 Strong economies are built on strong partnerships. Finance Think and the British Business Association in North Macedonia signed a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday, laying the foundation for closer cooperation on issues of importance to the business community, policymakers and society. The partnership brings together the British Business Association’s extensive business network and Finance Think’s […]
    The post MoU with the British Business Association in North Macedonia first appeared on Finance Think.
    The post MoU with the British Business Association in North Macedonia appeared first on Finance Think.

  • On pension matters, participation in Bloomberg

    🔴 What awaits future pensioners? 🟥 What kind of pension model do we need, and who will bear the burden of future reforms? 📌 Without measures, the deficit in the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund will continue to grow, and by the mid-2040s there will be fewer insured persons than pensioners, according to a study […]
    The post On pension matters, participation in Bloomberg first appeared on Finance Think.
    The post On pension matters, participation in Bloomberg appeared first on Finance Think.

  • Is Political Interference Addressed in the Frameworks of the Prosecutorial Councils in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina?

    This policy brief examines the frameworks governing prosecutorial councils in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to assess whether their laws ensure adequate independence in line with European standards. The rule of law and an independent justice system are fundamental to the European Union’s enlargement process, particularly within the crucial Chapter 23. A cornerstone of […]
    The post Is Political Interference Addressed in the Frameworks of the Prosecutorial Councils in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina? appeared first on EPI.

  • Raising the Bar on Integrity: Aligning North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina with the 2026 EU Anti-Corruption Directive

    This policy brief evaluates anti-corruption alignment and structural vulnerabilities in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina against the EU’s Directive (EU) 2026/1021 on Combatting Corruption. Within the European Union’s “Fundamentals First” enlargement methodology, establishing an accountable administration, an independent judiciary, and robust anti-corruption enforcement is a primary condition for membership. Despite significant differences in their […]
    The post Raising the Bar on Integrity: Aligning North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina with the 2026 EU Anti-Corruption Directive appeared first on EPI.