AGP Executive Report

Turkey-North Macedonia Deal-Making: Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and invited Turkish investors to “build future together,” highlighting cooperation in infrastructure, energy, tourism, education and defense. Air Pollution Health Watch: A Europe-wide PM2.5 map links pollution to premature deaths, naming North Macedonia’s Skopski region as among the worst-hit in 2023. Illegal Logging Pressure: A report warns that the EU’s delayed Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) until late 2026 is giving illegal timber networks in the Balkans more room to expand, including in forests tied to North Macedonia. Renewables Storage Milestone: YESS Power commissioned a 30 MW battery storage system in North Macedonia, described as the first grid-scale facility of its kind in the country and Western Balkans. EU Transport Delays: The European Court of Auditors says Western Balkans TEN-T projects, including in North Macedonia, are unlikely to meet the 2030 deadline due to weak oversight and slow project readiness. Drought and Food Security: Coverage highlights drought impacts across Europe and the region, including North Macedonia, stressing risks to agriculture and food security. Regional Cooperation Agenda: SEECP’s 30th anniversary summit in Sofia puts “stable, secure and sustainable” regional priorities on the table, with Romania set to lead the next chairmanship and emphasize resilience and the Green Agenda.

Air Pollution & Health: A new Europe-wide PM2.5 map links tiny particles to tens of thousands of premature deaths, naming North Macedonia’s Skopski region as the worst-hit area in 2023, with 301 premature deaths per 100,000 people. Renewables in the Region: YESS Power has commissioned the Balkans’ first large-scale solar battery storage system in North Macedonia: a 30 MW battery co-located with the Novaci solar park, aimed at stabilizing the grid and boosting renewable integration. Forests & Illegal Logging: The EU’s delayed Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is giving illegal timber networks a “dangerous window,” with 600-year-old beech forests in the Shebenik-Jabllanicë area on the Albania–North Macedonia border flagged as at risk. Climate & Drought: A Europe-wide analysis says drought has affected the EEA and also North Macedonia, with exceptionally dry years reported across much of the region since 2012. EU Funding & Transport Delays: The European Court of Auditors warns Western Balkans TEN-T progress is unlikely to meet the 2030 deadline due to weak project preparation, oversight, and monitoring—raising sustainability concerns. Energy Transition Finance: The EBRD approved a €175m loan for renewable rollouts in Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, supporting about 400 MW of wind and solar and cutting an estimated 390,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

Renewables Boost: YESS Power commissioned a 30 MW grid-scale battery storage system in North Macedonia, co-located with the Novaci solar park—aimed at stabilizing the grid and integrating more renewables. Forest & Biodiversity Pressure: A report warns illegal logging is accelerating across Albania’s UNESCO-protected forests, with the EU Deforestation Regulation delayed until late 2026—raising risks for the Shebenik-Jabllanicë area that also links to North Macedonia. Air Pollution Health: A Europe-wide PM2.5 map flags North Macedonia’s Skopski region as among the worst for premature deaths tied to fine particles, linking impacts to traffic, industry, and pollution-trapping weather. Climate & Drought: A Europe-wide analysis says drought has hit the EEA and also North Macedonia, threatening agriculture and food security as dry years become more common. EU Transport Oversight: The European Court of Auditors says Western Balkans TEN-T projects, including in North Macedonia, are unlikely to meet the 2030 deadline due to weak project preparation, monitoring, and sustainability planning. Energy & Industry Context: A new EBRD-backed renewable-energy loan in the region supports wind and solar expansion in Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, underscoring the wider push for decarbonisation.

Illegal Logging & EU Delay: A new report links accelerating illegal logging in Albania’s UNESCO-protected forests to the EU’s deforestation rules being pushed to late 2026, creating a “dangerous window” for grey-market timber networks stretching toward Western Europe. Air Pollution & Health: A Europe-wide PM2.5 map using EEA data highlights severe health impacts, with North Macedonia’s Skopski region flagged for the highest premature-death burden in 2023 (301 per 100,000). Renewables in the Region: YESS Power commissioned a 30 MW battery storage system in North Macedonia, co-located with the Novaci solar park, aiming to boost grid stability and renewable integration. Energy Finance: The EBRD approved a €175m loan for renewable rollout (wind and solar) across Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, supporting decarbonisation and energy security in the wider region. Forests Snapshot: A World Bank-based ranking shows North Macedonia at about 40% forest cover, placing it among Europe’s more forested countries. Drought Pressure: A drought-focused analysis says exceptionally dry years (2012–2026) are affecting agriculture and food security across North Macedonia and the wider region. Transport Funding Worries: EU auditors warn Western Balkans TEN-T projects, including in North Macedonia, are unlikely to meet the 2030 deadline due to delays, weak oversight, and sustainability concerns.

Clean Energy Investment: YESS Power commissioned Balkans’ first large-scale 30 MW battery storage system in North Macedonia, co-located with the Novaci solar park, aiming to boost grid flexibility and renewable integration. Air Pollution & Health: A Europe-wide PM2.5 map links pollution to tens of thousands of premature deaths; North Macedonia’s Skopski region is flagged as worst in 2023, with 301 premature deaths per 100,000 people. EU Transport Oversight: The European Court of Auditors warns Western Balkans TEN-T projects are unlikely to meet the 2030 deadline due to delays, weak monitoring, and funding of projects that weren’t ready. Regional Climate Impacts: Reporting on drought shows exceptionally dry years across much of Europe, including North Macedonia, threatening agriculture and food security. Bilateral Trade & Investment: PM Hristijan Mickoski invited Turkish investors in Istanbul, pitching North Macedonia as a gateway to European markets and highlighting reforms to cut red tape and digitize services. Biodiversity & Restoration: A regional conference in North Macedonia focuses on ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions, supporting the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and a draft WB6 Forest Landscape Restoration Plan.

Air Quality & Health: A Europe-wide PM2.5 map using European Environment Agency data points to severe health impacts, with North Macedonia’s Skopski region flagged at 301 premature deaths per 100,000 people in 2023, tied to pollution sources like industry, traffic, coal heating and weather that traps smog. Clean Energy: YESS Power has commissioned a 30 MW battery storage system in North Macedonia, co-located with the Novaci solar park, marking the first grid-scale facility of its kind in the country and the Western Balkans and boosting grid flexibility for renewables. Climate & Water Risk: A drought-focused analysis says exceptionally dry years from 2012–2026 have affected much of Europe and also North Macedonia, threatening agriculture and food security. Nature & Land: A regional ecosystem restoration conference in North Macedonia highlights ecosystem pressures across the Western Balkans and pushes nature-based solutions, including a draft WB6 Forest Landscape Restoration plan. Transport & Sustainability: The European Court of Auditors warns Western Balkans TEN-T work is unlikely to meet the 2030 deadline due to delays, weak oversight and projects approved before they were fully ready—an issue that also affects North Macedonia. Biodiversity Watch: A viral video of two hares “boxing” in North Macedonia is explained by wildlife fans as likely courtship and rejection behavior, not just a fight.

Renewables in the region: YESS Power has commissioned the Balkans’ first large-scale 30 MW battery energy storage system in North Macedonia, co-located with Mey Energy’s Novaci solar park, aiming to boost grid stability and make it easier to integrate more renewables. EU climate finance: The EBRD approved a EUR 175 million loan for PPC to expand wind and solar capacity across Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, expected to cut hundreds of thousands of tonnes of CO₂ annually. Drought pressure on food: A new analysis warns drought has hit North Macedonia and much of Europe, threatening agriculture and food security as dry years become more common. Nature restoration push: A regional conference in North Macedonia is backing ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions, aligning with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and plans for forest landscape restoration. Forests snapshot: A World Bank-based ranking shows North Macedonia at about 40% forest cover, highlighting how geography and land use shape biodiversity and resilience. Transport delays with sustainability concerns: EU auditors say Western Balkans TEN-T projects, including in North Macedonia, are unlikely to meet the 2030 deadline due to weak oversight and sustainability gaps. Housing affordability (human impact): An EU agency report links rising housing costs to growing homelessness risk, with young people and vulnerable groups hit hardest.

Renewables Upgrade: YESS Power has commissioned the Balkans’ first large-scale solar battery storage system in North Macedonia, a 30 MW facility co-located with Mey Energy’s Novaci solar park, boosting grid flexibility and helping renewables integrate more reliably. Nature & Wildlife: A viral video from North Macedonia shows two hares “boxing” upright; wildlife fans say it may be courtship and rejection rather than a simple fight, highlighting how animal behavior can look dramatic but be normal. EU Transport Oversight: The European Court of Auditors warns Western Balkan TEN-T projects—including in North Macedonia—are unlikely to meet the 2030 deadline due to delays, weak monitoring, and funding of projects that weren’t fully ready. Drought Pressure: A new analysis says drought has hit across Europe and the region, including North Macedonia, threatening agriculture and food security as dry years become more common. Regional Green Agenda: A Western Balkans ecosystem restoration conference backs nature-based solutions and presents a draft forest landscape restoration plan to strengthen biodiversity and resilience. Forests Snapshot: A data roundup ranks North Macedonia among Europe’s more forested countries (about 40% forest cover), while noting climate, pests, and wildfires are rising risks.

Energy Transition: YESS Power has commissioned the Balkans’ first large-scale solar battery storage system in North Macedonia: a 30 MW battery energy storage system co-located with Mey Energy’s 55 MW Novaci solar park near Novaci, aiming to boost grid stability and make renewable power more flexible across the region. Climate & Water Stress: A new drought-focused analysis says exceptionally dry conditions have hit much of Europe and also North Macedonia, threatening agriculture and food security as climate-related emissions cuts face political backsliding. EU Transport & Sustainability: The European Court of Auditors warns Western Balkan transport projects are unlikely to meet the EU’s 2030 deadline due to delays, weak oversight, and sustainability concerns—an issue that directly affects North Macedonia’s connectivity and long-term planning. Nature & Biodiversity Awareness: The EU Delegation in North Macedonia and the Albania embassy are organizing a bicycle tour around Lake Ohrid to promote sustainable mobility and environmental awareness across the border. Wildlife Watch: A viral video of two hares “boxing” in North Macedonia is being explained by wildlife fans as likely courtship and rejection, not just fighting. Regional Cooperation: Romania is set to take over the SEECP chairmanship, with priorities including the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and resilience to natural disasters.

EU Accession & Investment Climate: North Macedonia’s push for higher-quality foreign investment is getting tangled in EU accession delays, with analysts warning that uncertainty is eroding the country’s transition beyond a low-cost manufacturing role as net FDI fell sharply in 2025 (€467.5mn vs €1.2bn in 2024), even as early 2026 inflows rose mainly from reinvested earnings. Regional Sustainability Agenda: At the SEECP summit in Sofia, leaders framed cooperation around “stable, secure and sustainable” development, with Romania set to take over the rotating presidency and prioritize EU enlargement, resilience to disasters, and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. Nature & Ecosystem Restoration: A Western Balkans conference highlighted ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions, pointing to biodiversity loss pressures from land-use change, pollution and climate change, and presenting a draft WB6 Forest Landscape Restoration Plan. Wildfire Readiness: The EU is expanding coordinated wildfire response capacity with firefighters and aircraft pre-positioned across high-risk regions, aiming to protect communities and ecosystems as fire seasons intensify. Biodiversity Snapshot: A new Europe-wide ranking puts North Macedonia among the more forested countries (about 40% forest cover), underscoring how geography and land use shape nature and climate resilience. Youth Media Literacy: A BIRN report urges stronger skills for young people (18–30) across the Western Balkans to spot online misinformation, while calling for better platform transparency. Lake Ohrid Sustainable Mobility: An EU Delegation-organized bicycle tour around Lake Ohrid promoted sustainable mobility and environmental awareness through cross-border cycling.

Regional Cooperation: President Iliana Iotova will host the SEECP 30th anniversary summit in Sofia today, bringing together leaders from SEECP member states including North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, as Bulgaria hands the rotating chair to Romania. Nature & Restoration: A Western Balkans ecosystem restoration conference in North Macedonia, led with IUCN support, focuses on biodiversity loss drivers like pollution and climate change and presents the draft WB6 Forest Landscape Restoration Plan to scale nature-based solutions across the region. EU Enlargement & Security: EU leaders at the Tivat summit renewed momentum for Western Balkans accession, framing enlargement as increasingly tied to security concerns, while separate EU-Western Balkans discussions also highlight rule-of-law gaps and reform pressure. Water Use Spotlight: A World Bank-based ranking puts North Macedonia among the highest water users per person in the region, underscoring the need for smarter water management. Wildfire Readiness: The EU is expanding wildfire response with more firefighters and aircraft pre-positioned in high-risk areas, aiming to protect communities and ecosystems as extreme weather drives longer fire seasons. Sustainable Mobility: The EU Delegation in North Macedonia and Albania’s embassy are organizing a bicycle tour around Lake Ohrid to promote sustainable mobility and cross-border environmental awareness.

Regional Cooperation: Turkey’s FM Hakan Fidan will represent President Erdoğan at the SEECP Heads of State summit in Sofia on June 10, with a focus on connectivity projects (transport and energy), regional unity, and a “stable, secure and sustainable future.” EU Enlargement & Security: At the EU–Western Balkans Summit in Tivat (June 5), France and Germany pushed a new enlargement approach, while EU leaders framed accession as increasingly tied to security concerns amid geopolitical pressure. Nature & Restoration: A regional conference in North Macedonia (with IUCN support) is advancing ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions, aligning with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the WB6 Forest Landscape Restoration plan. Wildfire Readiness: The EU is pre-positioning 777 firefighters across high-risk areas (including Greece and Italy) with aircraft and helicopters ready, as longer, harsher fire seasons threaten communities and ecosystems. Sustainable Mobility: The EU Delegation in North Macedonia and Albania’s embassy are organizing a bicycle tour around Lake Ohrid to promote greener mobility and cross-border environmental awareness. Water Use Pressure: A World Bank-based ranking puts North Macedonia among the world’s highest water users per capita, highlighting the need for smarter water management.

Sustainable Travel & Local Mobility: The EU Delegation in North Macedonia and the Albanian Embassy are organizing a bicycle tour around Lake Ohrid for Europe Day, starting in Struga, passing through Ohrid and onward via border crossings in Pogradec and Sveti Naum—aimed at boosting sustainable mobility, environmental awareness, and people-to-people cooperation. Water & Resource Use: A World Bank-based ranking on water use per person puts North Macedonia among the highest in the world, listing it at 41,848 ft³/person—an eye-opener for how farming, industry, and irrigation shape daily water demand. Wildfire Readiness in Europe: The European Commission is pre-positioning 777 firefighters across wildfire-prone countries (including Greece and Italy) with aircraft and helicopters on standby, as longer, harsher fire seasons threaten communities and ecosystems. EU Enlargement & Security Context: At the EU-Western Balkans summit in Montenegro, EU leaders renewed efforts to speed up accession, framing enlargement as increasingly tied to security needs amid geopolitical pressure. Protest Pressure on Sensitive Coastlines: Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution” continues to grow against a luxury resort plan in a protected coastal wetland, with activists warning it could harm habitats for turtles and monk seals—sparking wider regional demonstrations, including plans for Skopje. North Macedonia in the Spotlight for Tourism: New travel coverage highlights North Macedonia’s rising visitor numbers (up 7% in 2025) and direct Wizz Air flights from the UK to Skopje and Ohrid, positioning the country as an under-visited, nature-rich alternative.

Regional Cooperation: President Iliana Iotova will host the SEECP 30th anniversary summit in Sofia on June 10, bringing together leaders from SEECP states and the Regional Cooperation Council to push confidence-building and good-neighbour ties. Water Use: A World Bank-based ranking puts North Macedonia among the top 10 countries for freshwater use per person, highlighting how agriculture and water demand shape everyday resource pressure. Sustainable Mobility: The EU Delegation in North Macedonia and the Albanian embassy are organizing a bicycle tour around Lake Ohrid to promote greener transport and cross-border environmental awareness. Wildfire Readiness: The EU is deploying a record wildfire response—777 firefighters, 22 aircraft and 5 helicopters—across high-risk countries as fire seasons intensify with extreme weather. River Restoration: North Macedonia’s demolition of an old concrete barrier on the Pčinja River is part of a wider European push to remove obsolete river barriers and reconnect habitats. Energy Transition: The Ministry of Energy reports progress on JETIP, with about 80 projects identified (around €1.7bn total) and growing renewable capacity, including major solar investments. Protest & Biodiversity Risk (Region): Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution” protests target a luxury coastal development in a sensitive wetland area linked to threatened wildlife, with demonstrations planned even in Skopje.

Water Use Watch: A World Bank-based ranking puts North Macedonia among the highest freshwater users per person (about 41,848 ft³/person), with cotton irrigation and heavy agriculture/industry cited as key drivers in other top countries. EU Wildfire Readiness: The European Commission is pre-positioning 777 firefighters across wildfire-prone areas (including Greece) with aircraft and helicopters on standby, as longer, harsher fire seasons strain national services. Rivers Reconnected: North Macedonia’s Eko-svest helped demolish a massive old river barrier in Kumanovo, part of Europe’s record 2025 dam-removal push to restore fish and free-flowing rivers. Energy Security: The Energy Community reports improving gas security in South East and Eastern Europe as EU-aligned storage rules advance; North Macedonia is expected to secure gas stored abroad. Local Mobility for Nature: The EU Delegation in North Macedonia and Albania’s embassy are organizing a bicycle tour around Lake Ohrid to promote sustainable mobility and environmental awareness. Protests vs Coastal Development: Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution” protests against a luxury resort plan in sensitive wetlands linked to the Kushner family are expanding, with organizers also announcing demonstrations including in Skopje. EU Enlargement, Security Lens: EU leaders meeting in Montenegro renewed efforts to speed up Western Balkans accession, framing enlargement as increasingly tied to security and stability. Just Energy Transition: North Macedonia reported progress on JETIP, identifying ~80 projects worth ~€1.7bn, with financing secured for about €460m and renewables now making up 58.22% of installed electricity capacity.

EU-Western Balkans Summit: EU leaders met in Tivat, Montenegro, to push faster accession for Western Balkan countries, framing enlargement as increasingly tied to security amid geopolitical pressure. Sustainable Mobility: The EU Delegation in North Macedonia and the Albanian Embassy organized a bicycle tour around Lake Ohrid to promote sustainable transport and cross-border cooperation. Wildfire Readiness: The European Commission is pre-positioning a record wildfire response—777 firefighters plus aircraft and helicopters—across high-risk areas, including Greece, as fire seasons intensify. Nature Protection Wins: North Macedonia’s Eko-svest helped remove a long-obsolete concrete barrier on the Pčinja River in Kumanovo, part of a wider European push to restore river connectivity. Energy Transition: North Macedonia’s JETIP progress update highlights about €1.7bn in identified projects and growing renewable capacity, with major solar investments like Bitola 3. Local Environment & Infrastructure: Serbia has started an environmental screening process for a Corridor 10 high-speed rail upgrade through North Macedonia, with transboundary assessment steps underway. Tourism Pressure (Watch): Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution” protests target a luxury coastal development in Zvërnec, raising alarms about impacts on sensitive wetlands and wildlife.