EC: Good Preparedness in Education and Science, Janevska: Over 75 Percent of the Annual Action Plan Is Completed

Skopje – Education and science are among the areas where the European Commission in its 2026 report notes good preparedness. This was stated by the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation Ben Nupnau, while Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska listed the concrete steps that, according to her, support such ratings.

The report covers the period from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026. Nupnau said North Macedonia is among the countries with the highest readiness for alignment with the EU and that progress, which slowed in previous years, picked up this year. Ambassador Rokas, for his part, assessed that progress is greater than last year, “especially in digital transformation, research, science and education”, as relayed from his words.

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Janevska said that the “free fall of education” has been stopped during this government’s two and a half years. The Education Strategy 2026–2032 has been adopted, and over 75 percent of the activities in the new one-year action plan are completed. By the editorial calculation, less than a quarter remains.

About 70 percent of young people enrol in vocational secondary schools, many of them in dual classes. A law on adult education has also been adopted, with a lifelong learning system built. The budget for education and science has been increased, the minister added, without giving the amounts.

In science and innovation, an Agency for Technological Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship has been formed, which already links the economy, the business community and education. The Smart Specialisation Strategy with an action plan has also been adopted, which Janevska described as crucial for economic development.

Nupnau, for his part, also listed recommendations for next year: better access to quality education for all, especially for children with special educational needs and for the Roma community.

No less important is the list that is still waiting. According to Janevska, three laws must pass in the Assembly: on higher education, on scientific research activity and on quality in higher education. A deadline for adopting them has not been announced.

What was not announced: the amounts for the increased budget, the number of pupils and students covered by the new measures, and the deadline for the three laws. Such data are not in the relayed statements.

As in other areas, a good rating does not change the condition for the negotiations. “Because of the escapades and the anti-state policy of the previous SDSM and DUI Government, we now have a political condition,” Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said on November 6, answering a journalist’s question. North Macedonia, he added, is perhaps the only country that, besides substantive reforms, also has political conditions, and the dialogue with “our eastern neighbour” is under way.

Progress exists, and the report states that no progress was made towards adopting the relevant constitutional changes. They remain the key to opening the negotiations, according to the Council Conclusions of 2022.

MKNews Hub · Macedonia · November 9, 2026