1st July 2026, Skopje - Ministry of Finance has made notable progress in the implementation of the Reform Agenda 2024 - 2027, strongly focusing on transparency, accountability and stronger public finance management. These reforms are essential for strengthening the country’s ability to efficiently absorb and manage EU funds.
Ministry of Finance has met 8 out of total of 22 steps completed by the country, leading to approval of EUR 142.1 million under the Reform Agenda.
During a working briefing with the EU Member State ambassadors, focused on the implementation of the Reform Agenda and the country’s EU integration priorities, Minister of Finance, Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska, highlighted that the Reform and Growth Facility is the main driver of reforms aimed at strengthening the public institutions, enhancing governance, fostering economic growth and accelerating EU accession. Thereby, she pointed out that the European Commission’s commitment to supporting our reform efforts via consistent monitoring meetings and technical assistance, helps us advance in key policy areas.
As part of the Reform Agenda, the Ministry of Finance completed the step aimed at strengthening public internal financial control, while the adoption of the PIFC Law has brought full alignment with the international standards and EU principles. More than 80% of the budget users at central level and 75% at local level submit reports on internal audits carried out, while more than 70% of the parent budget users at central level have risk management documents, covering anti-corruption risks, and record the identified risks in risk mitigation plans.
Furthermore, public procurement system has been strengthened, with the use of auctions in tenders in fiscal year 2025 decreasing to maximum 40% of tenders, thereby meeting the target of using e-auctions. Thereby, their share remains below the maximum threshold set in the Reform Agenda, enhancing transparency, competition and efficiency.
Progress has also been made in implementing the Organic Budget Law, including reform in public investment management.
As regards public investment management (PIM), following the adoption of the Decree on Public Investment Management, the Ministry of Finance has prepared and published Feasibility Study Guidelines and PIM Process Manual, and has carried out training for the public sector employees therefor. In May 2026, the List of Assessed and Approved Project Idea Proposals was adopted by the Public Investment Committee, based on which the Final Priority List of Public Investment Project Proposals will be adopted by the Government. Adequate level transitory IT solution has been developed, providing data from the approved Project Concept Notes and the monitoring reports. Thus, a centralized database has been established, including both ongoing and new projects at national level, from which to select the budget candidates and monitor the financial implementation of projects.
Over the past period, as part of the Reform Agenda, all 17 bylaws foreseen in the Organic Budget Law have been adopted, along with the establishment of the Registry of Public Entities, the revision of the budget classification and the reduction of the number of parent budget users from 83 to 35, thereby clearly identifying the second-line budget users.
Ministry of Finance has completed the steps, ahead of schedule, related to easing the access to lending for SMEs by expanding the issued guarantees under the State Guarantee Schemes and increasing the number of SMEs benefiting from CGSs.
As part of the fourth request for release of funds under the Growth Plan, the Ministry of Finance will submit two fiches addressing the two important steps in the area of Business Environment under the reform aimed at fostering SMEs development by adopting and implementing the new SME Strategy. The Ministry of Finance acted upon the European Commission recommendations to ease the access to lending for SMEs by amending the relevant legislation to allow the use of intangible assets as collateral in lending to SMEs, as well as to conduct thorough research on SMEs’ current use of leasing and the legal provisions, make the necessary amendments to encourage use for leasing as a financing option.
