North Macedonia
North Macedonia heads to local elections amid promises, unfinished projects and city challenges
North Macedonia is in the midst of a pre-election period characterised by a flurry of promises from politicians, ranging from infrastructure investments to tackling environmental issues, as the country prepares for its upcoming local elections.
World Bank projects growth upturn for Western Balkans from 2027
But region needs to focus on job creation and reforms to catch up with average EU living standards within the next 40 years.
Austria and Slovenia advocate qualified majority voting to unblock EU enlargement
Dropping unanimity requirement could accelerate the accession process for Ukraine, Moldova and potentially Western Balkans, but faces opposition from within the EU.
Rifts on show at EU-Western Balkan summit in Albania
Differences apparent over EU reform as well as friction between Serbia and Kosovo.
Mobile apps and cards drive surge in electronic payments in North Macedonia
Electronic payments in North Macedonia continued their strong upward trend, as citizens increasingly opted for mobile applications and payment cards instead of over-the-counter transactions, the National Bank said.
EU’s influence declines in its neighbourhood as China and Russia gain ground
Chinese presence growing in Western Balkans, while Russia makes gains in Turkey, shows new index developed by wiiw, Bertelsmann Stiftung and ECIPE.
EBRD says geopolitics, tariffs and China competition weigh on Emerging Europe growth
Development bank downgrades 2025 forecasts for Central and Eastern Europe citing weak external demand, rising debt and the impact of US tariffs.
North Macedonia busts major illegal logging ring causing €104mn forest damage
Police say group devastated 6,000 hectares of forest after corrupt officials accepted bribes to enable the circulation of timber.
Skopje residents rise up against landfill fires and toxic pollution
Combination of heat and toxic smoke from multiple fires has left residents trapped inside their homes.
North Macedonia’s GDP growth accelerates to 3.4% in 2Q25
Data point to a steady recovery of the Macedonian economy, supported by construction and services, but tempered by a widening trade gap.
North Macedonia rocked by new wiretapping scandal
Hristijan Mickoski says North Macedonia country is facing a new scandal involving illegal wiretapping and massive abuse of the surveillance system. A similar scandal sparked the Colourful Revolution of 2016.
Serbia records lowest support for EU in Western Balkans, survey shows
Just 33% of respondents in Serbia backed EU membership, compared with 91% in Albania and 69% in North Macedonia.
Disastrous harvest gives bitter taste of food inflation in North Macedonia
Cash-strapped shoppers tell bne IntelliNews’ Skopje correspondent that preparing ajvar and other traditional winter preserves is becoming prohibitively expensive.
Western Balkans gradually gaining on EU economies, but Ukraine falls further behind
Bruegel study finds all candidates and potential candidates except Ukraine have converged somewhat towards the EU average in GDP per capita terms.
North Macedonia ranks highest in emerging Europe for greenfield FDI performance
With under 2mn inhabitants and 2024 GDP of $16bn, the country punches well above its weight as an FDI destination, finds fDi Intelligence.
€1bn EU energy crisis aid in Western Balkans largely untraceable, watchdog says
CEE Bankwatch research reveals only €163.1mn of €1bn spent could be clearly linked to advancing the Green Agenda.
EU risks fuelling democratic decline in Balkans as reform credibility erodes, report warns
The European Union is prioritising short-term stability over genuine democratic reform, says a report from the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group.