Journalists Decode Gradual Integration, the Growth Plan, and the Reform Agenda

On 6–7 November 2026, the European Policy Institute (EPI) organized the second training module under the project “Decode the EU – Communicating EU policies together” in Strumica. The two-day workshop brought together 10 journalists and editors from national and local Macedonian- and Albanian-language media outlets, aiming to strengthen analytical, evidence-based reporting on North Macedonia’s EU accession journey.

The program seeks to move past simple reproduction of institutional press releases by equipping journalists with a substantive understanding of EU institutions, the acquis communautaire, and sectoral policies.

Gradual Integration: Opportunities before Membership and Regional Cooperation

The first day focused on existing opportunities for integration with the EU and new approaches to enlargement policy. Participants examined the achievements and limitations of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, including comparisons with Ukraine’s and Moldova’s Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with the EU. Discussions also covered institutional cooperation, sectoral agreements, and participation in Union policies before full membership.

Journalists then analyzed initiatives from Member State non-papers, pre-enlargement policy reviews, the enlargement package and roadmaps, alongside opportunities to access EU markets and policies through the Growth Plan. A central question was whether phased accession can accelerate the path to membership or risks fragmented integration. The day concluded with a discussion of the Berlin Process and the Common Regional Market, examining their achievements, action plans, and reports.

Day two focused on the shift towards results-based financing. Following an overview of the evolution of the EU budget and pre-accession assistance instruments, participants explored the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans. Particular attention was paid to the conditions for receiving funds, procedures for their release and use, and the link between reform implementation and financial support.

The next session examined North Macedonia’s Reform Agenda, its relationship with accession negotiations, and the responsibilities of institutions and implementation structures. Participants reviewed implementation results and useful information platforms and monitoring tools. Through a practical exercise on reading European Commission assessments and reports, journalists worked on identifying topics and questions for investigative stories about reforms and the use of funds.

This training was organized with the financial support of Sweden through the “Support to European Integration of North Macedonia” Project, implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The content of this training is the sole responsibility of European Policy Institute (EPI) and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of Sweden and UNOPS.

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