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EU-North Macedonia parliamentary committee discussions

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-26 13:38 UTC → 2026-09-28 19:03 UTC · added removed

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, citing an Austrian real estate scandal where high-profile individuals faced legal consequences. 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. This mismatch stems from a gap between available skills and employer needs in the service, retail, and construction sectors. Furthermore, informal employment is on the rise, with over 101,000 workers operating without regulated employment relations. Previously, Weiss also addressed Regarding environmental challenges, noting 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.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-28 19:03 UTC EU-North Macedonia parliamentary committee discussions
  2. 2026-09-26 13:38 UTC EU-North Macedonia parliamentary committee discussions
  3. 2026-09-25 19:38 UTC EU-North Macedonia parliamentary committee discussions
  4. 2026-09-25 10:57 UTC EU-North Macedonia parliamentary committee discussions

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