# EU-North Macedonia parliamentary committee discussions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eu-north-macedonia-parliamentary-committee-discussions
> Updated: 2026-09-28T16:16:22.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 3.

Thomas Weiss, the European Parliament rapporteur for North Macedonia, has addressed the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee on several critical issues regarding the country’s integration and stability.

Initially, Weiss focused on the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts. He argued that combating corruption is a “vital investment in the state’s future” and warned that perceptions of nepotism contribute to brain drain by making youth feel that connections outweigh merit. He urged the implementation of judicial reforms and updates to the Criminal Code to ensure accountability for the wealthy and influential.

In recent discussions, Weiss expanded on these themes, emphasizing that fighting corruption is an investment in “societal trust” rather than merely a requirement for EU accession. He noted that while corruption exists across EU member states, a key distinction is the accountability of the wealthy. He warned that if citizens are not convinced that justice applies equally to everyone, the brain drain among North Macedonian youth will persist. He further emphasized that institutional reforms must serve the citizens and improve daily life rather than being conducted solely to meet EU mandates.

Parallel to these institutional concerns, North Macedonia is experiencing a labor market paradox. As of the second quarter of 2026, approximately 90,020 individuals are unemployed despite thousands of unfilled positions. Furthermore, informal employment is on the rise, with over 101,000 workers operating without regulated employment relations.

Regarding environmental challenges, Weiss noted that the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold has been surpassed. He recommended managing air pollution and wastewater while leveraging natural landscapes, such as Pelister, Galichica, Mavrovo, and Shara, to promote tourism growth similar to regional models in Albania and Montenegro.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-28: North Macedonia reforms must serve citizens, not just EU, says rapporteur

EU rapporteur Thomas Weizsäcker stated that North Macedonia's reforms must focus on citizen welfare and institutional trust to combat corruption and prevent the mass emigration of young people.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/north-macedonia-reforms-must-serve-citizens-not-just-eu-says-rapporteur

### 2026-09-25: North Macedonia urged to promote natural tourism for economic growth

EU rapporteur Thomas Weiss urges North Macedonia to promote its natural landscapes, like Pelister and Shara, to boost economic growth through tourism while emphasizing urgent climate change adaptation.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/thomas-weiss-urges-climate-adaptation-and-tourism-growth-in-north-macedonia

### 2026-09-24: Thomas Weiss urges North Macedonia to strengthen rule of law

Thomas Weiss urges North Macedonia to strengthen rule of law to combat corruption and brain drain, while the country simultaneously faces a labor market paradox of high unemployment and unfilled jobs.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/thomas-weiss-addresses-corruption-and-rule-of-law-in-north-macedonia

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Cite as: EU-North Macedonia parliamentary committee discussions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eu-north-macedonia-parliamentary-committee-discussions