AGP Executive Report

Government & Elections: North Macedonia’s election law debate stalled in parliament after the opposition filed thousands of amendments, with a fight over diaspora e-voting and fears of “controlled voting” and abuse. EU Accession & Funding: Western Balkan states face possible loss of EU Growth Plan money if reform targets aren’t met by July 15, with North Macedonia among the frontrunners likely to receive more—while others risk cuts. EU Politics & Minorities: A deregistered Bulgarian cultural group in Bitola urged Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski to “tell the truth” after an EP report, arguing it supports constitutional recognition of Bulgarians and stronger minority-rights protections. Local Governance & Infrastructure: A severe storm flooded parts of Skopje, turning major roads into impassable stretches and triggering major traffic chaos. Foreign Policy & Diplomacy: Qatar took part in a Skopje forum on sustainability and resilient institutions, attended by PM Mickoski and foreign ministry officials. Digital Security: A malware campaign tied to “SharkLoader” reportedly reached victims including North Macedonia, using fake installers to deliver malicious tools. AI & Youth: UNICEF says children in North Macedonia and elsewhere are adopting AI rapidly—raising concerns as safeguards lag behind.

Government Reshuffle: North Macedonia PM Hristijan Mickoski unveiled a limited cabinet reshuffle, adding the Democratic Party of Turks with a minister without portfolio and keeping VMRO-DPMNE in control of key ministries; the deputy PM post for good governance is scrapped and its duties move to the PM’s cabinet. Election Law Fight: Parliament suspended debate on a new election law after the opposition filed thousands of amendments, centering on diaspora e-voting and fears of unsafe, potentially abuse-prone electronic voting. EU Accession Politics: A deregistered Ivan Mihailov Cultural Centre in Bitola urged Mickoski to “tell the truth” about an EP report, arguing it supports constitutional recognition of Bulgarians and calls for stronger minority rights and historical-archives access. EU Funding Pressure: Western Balkans states risk losing EU Growth Plan money if reform targets aren’t met, with North Macedonia among frontrunners likely to receive more after missed or delayed reforms elsewhere. Regional Governance & Services: UNICEF says children in North Macedonia and other countries are adopting AI far faster than safeguards can keep up, raising concerns about scams and harmful use. Public Life: Skopje was hit by a sudden storm that flooded major roads and triggered major traffic chaos.

EU Accession Politics: A deregistered Bulgarian cultural group in Bitola urged Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski to “tell the truth” on the European Parliament’s progress report, arguing it contradicts Skopje’s stance on Bulgarians as a constituent community and calls for stronger minority rights, renewed Bulgaria–North Macedonia historical talks, and opening former UDBA/KOS archives. Election Integrity: Parliament’s debate on a new election law was suspended after thousands of amendments from the opposition, with SDSM warning diaspora e-voting could enable controlled or proxy voting without safeguards. Government Reshuffle: Mickoski unveiled a limited cabinet reshuffle, adding the Democratic Party of Turks with a minister without portfolio and abolishing the deputy PM post for good governance, while keeping VMRO-DPMNE in control of key ministries. EU Funding Pressure: Western Balkan states face potential loss of EU Growth Plan money if reform targets aren’t met by July 15, with North Macedonia among frontrunners tied to payments. Public Services & Crisis: A severe storm flooded parts of Skopje, including Srbija Boulevard, causing major traffic chaos as drainage systems were overwhelmed. Health System Stress: A new review highlights healthcare strain amid reforms, staffing shortages, low public funding, and rising patient costs. Digital Safety: UNICEF says children are adopting AI far faster than adults, while governance and protections lag behind. NATO Context: Coverage ahead of the Ankara summit focuses on defense spending pressure and alliance unity strains.

Government Reshuffle: North Macedonia PM Hristijan Mickoski unveiled a limited cabinet reshuffle, adding the Democratic Party of Turks with a minister without portfolio and boosting the ruling bloc to 79 MPs, while also scrapping the deputy PM post for good governance and shifting those duties to the cabinet. Local Governance & Public Services: The reshuffle keeps VMRO-DPMNE in control of key ministries (interior, finance, foreign affairs, defence, education) while reallocating health and social policy, demography and youth, and local self-government roles—an early test of coalition stability. Rule of Law & Transparency: A new Western Balkans report says Freedom of Information requests are rising, but access is still routinely blocked through delays, refusals, and weak enforcement—North Macedonia included. Civic Life & Safety: A severe storm flooded parts of Skopje, including Srbija Boulevard, overwhelming drainage and triggering major traffic chaos. International Justice: Kosovo reacted angrily after The Hague Specialist Chambers delayed the verdict in the Thaci/Veseli/Krasniqi/Selimi war-crimes case again, pushing the date to September 16.

Government Reshuffle: North Macedonia PM Hristijan Mickoski unveiled a limited cabinet reshuffle, adding the small Democratic Party of Turks with one minister without portfolio, scrapping the deputy PM post for good governance, and shifting roles after Arben Fetai’s resignation over prolonged absence. Local Impact & Infrastructure: A severe storm hit Skopje on July 1, flooding major roads like Srbija Boulevard and triggering major traffic chaos as drainage systems were overwhelmed. EU-Integration Politics: Mickoski says a principle agreement is in place with coalition partners VLEN and ZNAM on ministerial distribution, with new names expected after VMRO-DPMNE’s executive committee meeting. Governance & Transparency: A new BIRN report warns that freedom of information is still routinely blocked across the Western Balkans, including North Macedonia, despite more requests being filed. Security & Migration: Frontex flags continued visa-free abuses by citizens of China, Russia and Turkey using the Western Balkans as a springboard into the EU. NATO Defense Focus: NATO parliamentary leaders meeting in Istanbul called for stronger defense capabilities and alliance unity ahead of the Ankara summit.

Government Reshuffle: North Macedonia’s PM Hristijan Mickoski has presented a proposed cabinet lineup after coalition talks with VLEN and ZNAM, including Sašo Klekovski as new Health Minister and a new Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth led by Djoko Velkovski; the deputy prime minister post for good governance is set to be abolished, with responsibilities moved into the PM’s cabinet. Coalition Power-Sharing: The agreement in principle covers how ministries are distributed across partners, with VLEN set to take six portfolios (including Justice, Culture and Tourism, and Inter-Community Relations), while other posts are expected to be confirmed after VMRO-DPMNE’s executive committee meeting. NATO Focus: NATO parliamentary leaders meeting in Istanbul urged stronger defense capabilities, tighter allied unity, and continued support for Ukraine, stressing that military power alone is not enough without resilience, infrastructure, and political cohesion. Regional Transparency Watch: A new report says Freedom of Information requests are rising across the Western Balkans, but access is still routinely blocked through delays, administrative barriers, and weak enforcement—highlighting North Macedonia among the countries studied. Migration Pressure: Frontex warns that citizens of China, Russia and Turkey are exploiting the Western Balkans’ visa-free access as a springboard to the EU, urging regional governments to align visa policies with EU rules.

Government Reshuffle Talks: North Macedonia’s PM Hristijan Mickoski says VMRO-DPMNE has reached an agreement in principle with coalition partners VLEN and ZNAM on changes to the cabinet, with new minister names expected after VMRO-DPMNE’s executive meeting. Border & Mobility: Albania and North Macedonia signed a deal to speed crossings via a “One Stop” joint border control at Qafe Thane (later this month) and Blate (next month), aiming to cut queues and boost trade. Local Governance: Skopje mayor Danela Arsov? (reported as Gjorgjievski) is studying crisis management and municipal services in Israel, focusing on emergency preparedness, water, traffic, and digital public services. Transparency Pressure: A BIRN report warns that Freedom of Information requests are rising across the Western Balkans, but institutions still block access through delays, barriers, and weak enforcement—covering North Macedonia among others. Regional Security: NATO parliamentary leaders meeting in Istanbul urged stronger defense, unity, and continued support for Ukraine, with speakers from Bulgaria and Croatia stressing resilience and cohesion. EU Accession Friction: Hungary blocked a key procedural step in Ukraine’s EU bid, arguing against fast-tracking and raising minority-rights concerns—an issue that also reverberates for the Western Balkans. Wildlife & Illicit Trade: Serbia’s “Feliks” eagle was rescued after illegal trafficking across the Middle East, flying through North Macedonia on the way—highlighting cross-border wildlife crime and conservation efforts.

Government Reshuffle: North Macedonia’s PM Hristijan Mickoski says VMRO-DPMNE and coalition partners VLEN and ZNAM have reached an agreement in principle on changes to the cabinet, with new minister names expected after VMRO-DPMNE’s Executive Committee meeting. VLEN is set to take six ministries, including Justice, Culture and Tourism, and Inter-Community Relations, reshaping key portfolios ahead of the next political cycle. Border Management: Albania and North Macedonia signed a deal to streamline crossings using a “One Stop” joint border control at Qafe Thane (later this month) and Blate (next month), aiming to cut waiting times and boost trade and travel. Local Governance: Skopje Mayor Danela Arsovska’s visit to Israel’s MUNI EXPO focused on learning practical lessons in crisis management, emergency preparedness, water and traffic systems, and digital public services. Security & Diplomacy: NATO parliamentary leaders meeting in Istanbul urged stronger defense capabilities, alliance unity, and continued support for Ukraine, with speakers stressing resilience and international law. Regional Watch: Hungary blocked a key procedural step in Ukraine’s EU accession bid, arguing against fast-tracking and raising minority-rights concerns—an issue that also reverberates across the Western Balkans. Public Life: A Tetovo court ruling striking down 2007 decisions on Albanian street and square names sparked protests, with the dispute tied to how Albanian political and cultural representation is handled after the Ohrid framework. Cybersecurity: A new SharkLoader malware campaign has been reported targeting multiple governments and organizations, including entities linked to North Macedonia, highlighting ongoing risks to public institutions.

Government Reshuffle: North Macedonia’s PM Hristijan Mickoski says an agreement in principle is reached on changes to the cabinet with VMRO-DPMNE, VLEN and ZNAM, with new minister names expected after VMRO-DPMNE’s executive meeting. EU & Diplomacy: Mickoski also claims Bulgaria is running a campaign against his country, while Bulgaria’s foreign ministry says it is checking facts over the handling of North Macedonia’s diplomatic note about events tied to the PM’s family visit. Local Governance: Skopje Mayor Danela Arsov (Gjorgjievski) is studying crisis management and service delivery in Israeli cities, looking for practical lessons for municipal resilience. Minority Rights & Courts: Albanians in Tetovo protest after a Constitutional Court ruling that could reverse Albanian street and square names adopted in 2007. Regional Security: NATO parliamentary leaders meeting in Istanbul urge stronger defense, alliance unity, and continued support for Ukraine. Cross-Border Trade: Albania and North Macedonia sign a deal to streamline border crossings with a “One Stop” joint control system at Qafe Thane and Blate. Energy Transition: An Energy Community report highlights the need for better rules so households and businesses can actively produce, store and sell green electricity. Cybersecurity: A new SharkLoader malware campaign is reported targeting governments and software firms, including entities linked to North Macedonia.

Heatwave & Public Safety: A record-breaking European heat wave is moving east, with Balkan authorities warning of dangerous temperatures up to 40°C, health risks for vulnerable people, and fresh wildfire activity after a major landfill fire near Mostar. Energy Transition: A new Energy Community Regulatory Board push argues that North Macedonia and the wider region need clearer rules so households and businesses can actively generate, store, and sell green power. Border Management: Albania and North Macedonia signed an agreement to speed crossings via a “One Stop” joint border control at Qafe Thane (later this month) and Blate (next month). EU Accession Politics: The EU is reportedly preparing “membership-lite” benefits for candidates, while North Macedonia’s EU track is still framed by domestic critics as stalled by political calculations. Diplomatic Row: Bulgaria ordered checks over how a North Macedonia diplomatic note was handled after Skopje accused Sofia of mishandling information about the PM’s family travel. Cybersecurity: Kaspersky says a new SharkLoader malware campaign has targeted government and software firms across multiple countries, including North Macedonia. Local Identity Dispute: Albanians in Tetovo protested after a court ruling could reverse street and square names adopted in 2007. Governance & Inclusion: President Stevo Pendarovski intervened in a school bullying case involving an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome in Gostivar, calling the behavior unacceptable.

EU Accession Pressure: The European Commission is preparing a “membership-lite” approach, offering candidate countries selected EU benefits while negotiations drag on—North Macedonia is named among the nine official candidates. Diplomacy Row: North Macedonia’s foreign ministry says it is checking facts after Bulgaria publicly handled a diplomatic note involving Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s family travel; Sofia denies disclosing any formal correspondence. Domestic Politics: PM Hristijan Mickoski again escalated rhetoric in parliament, vowing to put opposition leader Venko Filipche “behind bars,” tying it to public distrust in institutions. EU Integration Politics: The Alliance for Albanians warns North Macedonia is stuck “hostage to political calculations,” arguing constitutional amendments are the key to unlocking EU progress. Local Governance & Identity: In Tetovo, Albanians protested after a court ruling could reverse Albanian street and square names, including Iliria Square. Cross-Border Trade: Albania and North Macedonia signed an agreement to speed border crossings with a “One Stop” joint control system at Qafe Thane and Blate. Cybersecurity: A Kaspersky report describes the SharkLoader malware campaign targeting government and software firms, including victims linked to North Macedonia. Public Life: A Skopje mayor studied crisis management and city services in Israel, seeking practical lessons for municipal resilience.

Border Politics & Mobility: Albania and North Macedonia signed an agreement to introduce a “One Stop” joint border control at Qafe Thane (later this month) and Blate (next month), aiming to cut waiting times and speed up people and goods movement. Local Governance: Skopje Mayor Danela Arsov Gjorgjievski is in Israel studying how municipal authorities handle crises, traffic, water management and digital services. Minority Rights & Court Fallout: Albanians in Tetovo protested after North Macedonia’s Constitutional Court struck down a 2007 decision on public place names, potentially restoring Marshall Tito Square and reigniting identity tensions. Presidential Action on Inclusion: President Stevo Pendarovski visited a Gostivar school after an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome was effectively isolated by classmates’ parents, with the Ombudsman investigating bullying and obstruction. EU Accession Pressure: The Alliance for Albanians warned North Macedonia is “hostage to political calculations,” saying constitutional amendments are still the key condition for EU progress. Diplomatic Row: Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry said it is checking facts around a diplomatic note involving Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s family travel to Bulgaria, after Skopje demanded an apology. Cybersecurity: A Kaspersky-linked report describes the SharkLoader malware campaign targeting multiple countries, including North Macedonia, with attackers using tactics disguised as legitimate software.

Border & Interior Cooperation: Albania and North Macedonia signed an agreement to speed up travel and trade with a “One Stop” joint border control at Qafe Thane (later this month) and Blate (next month), aiming to cut waiting times. Local Governance & Crisis Readiness: Skopje Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski visited Israel’s MUNI EXPO 2026 to study how municipalities handle emergencies, traffic, water management, and digital services. Court & Identity Politics: Albanians in Tetovo protested after the Constitutional Court struck down a 2007 decision on public place names, with protesters warning it could restore Marshall Tito Square and undo Iliria Square. Diplomacy & Legal Scrutiny: Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry ordered checks over how North Macedonia’s diplomatic note was handled after a dispute over a note about Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s family travel. EU Accession Pressure: The Alliance for Albanians warned North Macedonia is stuck in “political calculations,” saying constitutional amendments are still the key to unlocking EU progress. Cybersecurity: A Kaspersky report described the StrikeShark campaign using a new SharkLoader malware to target governments and software firms, including victims named in North Macedonia. EU Funding Idea: The European Commission is preparing a “membership-lite” approach offering candidate countries partial access to EU programmes and the Single Market while reforms continue. President & Social Inclusion: President Stevo Pendarovski visited an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome in Gostivar after bullying and school disruption, stressing children’s rights must be protected.

Court & Identity: Albanians in Tetovo protested after North Macedonia’s Constitutional Court struck down a 2007 municipal decision on public place names, potentially restoring Marshall Tito Square and removing Iliria Square; protesters say the change disregards Albanian cultural representation after the 2001 Ohrid framework, while the court cited lack of government approval. Diplomatic Fallout: Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry says it is checking facts around the handling of North Macedonia’s diplomatic note, after Skopje alleged Bulgaria published details about Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s family travel arrangements; Sofia denies disclosing any such note. EU Accession Politics: The Alliance for Albanians warns North Macedonia is stuck in EU “stagnation,” arguing constitutional amendments are the key condition and criticizing the government for lacking guarantees and accountability. Cybersecurity: Kaspersky reports a new malware campaign, StrikeShark, using fake Cisco AnyConnect and Google Update installers to deploy SharkLoader and Cobalt Strike Beacon; victims reportedly include entities in North Macedonia. Heat & Governance Context: A severe heatwave is building across Europe and moving east toward the Balkans, with warnings for vulnerable groups in the region.

Cybersecurity & Diplomacy: Kaspersky reports a new malware campaign, “StrikeShark,” using a previously unknown loader “SharkLoader” to deploy Cobalt Strike Beacon, with victims including a diplomatic organization in Indonesia and government/software targets that also include North Macedonia. EU Accession Pressure: The EU is reportedly preparing a “membership-lite” approach to keep candidate countries engaged, while Hungary continues to block or slow key enlargement steps for Ukraine and Moldova—an issue that keeps casting a shadow over the Western Balkans’ EU timelines, including North Macedonia. Domestic Politics & Rule of Law: Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski escalated rhetoric in parliament, vowing to put opposition leader Venko Filipche “behind bars,” amid renewed criticism over trust in institutions and the judiciary. Anti-Corruption Watch: North Macedonia’s State Commission for Preventing Corruption is investigating Government Secretary General Igor Janushev’s assets, after media and opposition raised questions about undeclared property links abroad. Foreign Ministry Row: Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry says it has checked facts after North Macedonia’s FM said Bulgaria should apologize over a leaked diplomatic note involving the PM’s family travel—while Bulgaria denies disclosing such correspondence. Tech & State Capacity: Skopje launched the Vezilka project for a national AI center, backed by EU funding and linked to European AI infrastructure.

EU Accession Pressure: The Alliance for Albanians says North Macedonia is “hostage to political calculations,” warning that constitutional amendments are the key to unlocking EU progress while the government and VLEN stay silent despite earlier promises. Parliamentary Clash: PM Hristijan Mickoski escalated rhetoric against opposition leader Venko Filipche, vowing he will be “behind bars,” as the dispute centers on trust in institutions and emigration fears. Rule of Law Debate: Civil society groups urge the European Commission to make the July Rule of Law Report more than “box-ticking,” calling for verifiable follow-up and rule-of-law conditionality on EU funds. Anti-Corruption Probe: Skopje’s State Commission for Prevention of Corruption is investigating Government Secretary General Igor Janushev’s assets, after foreign-linked property questions raised by opposition SDSM. AI Infrastructure: Skopje launched the Vezilka project for a national AI center, linking universities, institutions, and business to EU AI infrastructure under a ~EUR 6.2m, three-year plan. Energy Pipeline: North Macedonia’s approved solar and power project pipeline is expanding fast, with gigawatt-scale plans approved for 2026 despite regulatory shifts. Regional EU Enlargement Blockage: Hungary’s opposition is slowing Ukraine and Moldova’s accession talks, with the EU scaling back to opening only two negotiation clusters in July—an issue that also affects Western Balkans enlargement expectations. Cybersecurity Alert: A malware campaign (“StrikeShark”) using fake Cisco AnyConnect and Google Update installers has been reported with victims including North Macedonia.