The document Economic Reform Programme 2023 – 2025 can be downloaded on the following link.

In order to support better economic governance, the European Union (EU) in the Enlargement Strategy of October 2013 introduced a new approach called the European Semester Light, with the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey being invited by the European Commission (EC) from October 2014 to improve economic policies and strengthen economic governance through the preparation of economic reform programmes – ERP.

The Republic of North Macedonia participates in the process of pre-accession harmonization of economic policies with the European Union and prepares an annual ERP that contains macroeconomic and fiscal policies and indicators, as well as structural reforms and measures to improve the country’s competitiveness and reduce unemployment. The preparation of ERP at the level of the Government is coordinated by the Ministry of Finance and submitted to the EC after its adoption by the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia no later than January 31.

After delivering ERP to the EC, it is assessed through assessment missions in the country by the EC, the European Central Bank and Eurostat. Then a dialogue within the Council of the EU begins. First, a technical level discussion within the auxiliary bodies of the Council takes place in preparation for a dialogue within the Council of the EU represented by the so-called “trio”, i.e. the current and two consecutive presidencies, the finance ministers and the central bank governors of the countries – candidates for EU membership of the Western Balkans and Turkey. The process ends with the adoption of joint conclusions based on the ERP assessments and recommendations that are given to improve the macroeconomic policy of the country, the management of public finances and the quality of structural reforms (the so-called Policy Guidance). The candidate countries, when preparing the next ERP, are obliged to report on the level of implementation of the recommendations in the last year, in order to fulfill the economic criteria for accession to the EU – the existence of a functioning market economy and capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union.

The Economic Reform Programme 2023-2025 text was accepted by the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia on 1st of February 2023 and was officially submitted to the European Union on the same day.

The preparation of ERP as a coherent strategic document and its timely submission to the European Commission is a confirmation of the capacity of the country’s administration in terms of coordination of economic policies and work efficiency. ERP is a common result of several institutions, and the overall preparation is coordinated by the Ministry of Finance.

ERP is a complex document that is prepared according to the EU Guidance note for the preparation of the ERP from June 2022. When selecting key sectoral structural reforms, institutions take into account the challenges and problems in the respective areas, which influence the increase of the competitiveness and economic growth of the country, as well as the creation of jobs. During the preparation of ERP 2023-2025 several strategic and other documents were taken into account:

Summary of reform measures in ERP 2023-2025

A. Reforms addressing the three key challenges:
1.       Strengthening of human capital for inclusive development
Measure 1: Further development of qualification system
Measure 2: Increasing the flexibility and security of the labour market
Measure 3: Enhancing the system for social inclusion of vulnerable groups
Measure 4: Strengthening the quality of the Primary Health care
2.       Fostering the green transition
Measure 5: Promotion of renewable energy sources
Measure 6: Improvement of energy efficiency
Measure 7: Establishing wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure in accordance with EU requirements
Measure 8: Establishing an integrated and financially self-sustainable waste management system
3.       Improving the competitiveness of domestic companies, their integration in the global value chains and formalisation of the economy
Measure 9: Implementation of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) along Corridor X
Measure 10: Broadening the scope of digital services provided on National E-service Portal
Measure 11: Streamline the use of parafiscal charges
Measure 12: Hybrid fund for green and digital start-ups and innovative SME’s
Measure 13: Financial support for Roma entrepreneurs
Measure 14: Establishment of Management Information System on State Aid
Measure 15: Introducing mechanisms for formalising informal work in sectors with high incidents of undeclared activities
Measure 16: Support to development of the innovation eco system
Measure 17: Strengthening the market rules in the Republic of North Macedonia
Measure 18: Modernisation of the postharvest technologies and processes of the agricultural products
B. Reforms addressing other challenges:
Measure 19: Establishing Integrated Tax Information System in Public Revenue Office (PRO)

More information on the European Semester and Economic Governance from the aspect of fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria can be found on the following web pages:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/eu-economic-governance-monitoring-prevention-correction/european-semester_en and

https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/policy/policy-highlights/economic-governance_en

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Оваа вест е достапна и на: Macedonian

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