North Macedonia

On 2 October von der Leyen said North Macedonia has received €140 million under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, with further payments due in the coming weeks and more EU investment coming soon. This EU co-financing is a practical source of public-sector demand and project finance, especially for infrastructure and digital suppliers, even while accession is stalled.

Agence Europe · 2026-10-02

The US State Department's 2026 Investment Climate Statement, published in September, finds no laws that discriminate against foreign investors. It notes substantial incentives in the 15 free economic zones but says greater investor engagement did not materialise in 2025. It highlights digitalisation, green energy and nearshoring along Corridors 8 and 10d as the main opportunities, and notes there is no bilateral investment treaty with the United States.

U.S. Department of State · 2026-09-30

European Commission President von der Leyen visited Skopje on 2 October. She said North Macedonia has one key step left before accession talks can move forward: the constitutional amendment recognising a Bulgarian minority, agreed under the 2022 EU compromise. She told Skopje to request a meeting with Bulgarian officials as a first step. Until that block is removed, firms should not plan around faster harmonisation of North Macedonia's rules with EU law or a fixed accession timeline.

European Western Balkans · 2026-10-02

Relations with Bulgaria are further strained by the Mihaylova case. A Bulgarian–North Macedonian national being prosecuted over a road accident has been refused permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, and Sofia has protested. Prime Minister Mickoski asked the EU to help broker a compromise, so the bilateral dispute that is the main obstacle to accession remains politically live.

Agence Europe · 2026-10-02

On 15 September the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia kept its key rate at 4.25%, citing continued high uncertainty in the external environment. This keeps the tighter stance set by June's 25bp hike, the first since 2023. Entrants should expect denar borrowing costs to stay high while the central bank protects the denar's peg to the euro.

SeeNews · 2026-09-15

The State Statistical Office reported that consumer prices in September 2026 were unchanged from August. Annual inflation had already eased to 3.4% in June from 4.8% in May. Price pressure appears to be easing, which lowers the risk of further rate rises, but the central bank still says foreign prices are high and unstable.

State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · 2026-10-10

Central bank data published in September showed the banks' loan portfolio up 13% year on year at end-July and M1 money supply up 11% at end-August. Domestic demand and credit remain strong, which supports consumer-facing entrants. It also explains why policymakers have not started cutting rates.

SeeNews · 2026-09-21

No significant developments identified in this section for the reporting period.

Aperture editorial note · 2026-10-10