Back Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje Welcomes Interns from European Commission’s DG ENEST

Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje Welcomes Interns from European Commission’s DG ENEST

Last week, the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje had the pleasure to welcome a group of interns from the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) of the European Commission.

The aim of this visit was to learn firsthand about the work and main priorities of the Council of Europe in North Macedonia and wider in the region. During their discussion, they were introduced to various initiatives implemented by the Council of Europe Office in Skopje, and which play a crucial role in promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

The young professionals had the chance to gain insights into how the Council of Europe, together with the European Union, assists North Macedonia and the region in fulfilling the highest standards across key areas such as justice, anti-discrimination, education, and anti-corruption. In this context a special focus was given to the EU and Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

During the meeting the importance of continued co-operation between the Council of Europe, the European Commission, and local stakeholders was underlined, highlighting the impact of joint efforts on improving governance and the lives of citizens in North Macedonia and the region.

The interns expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and informative discussions, as well as for the opportunity to engage with professionals dedicated to regional development and European integration.

This visit reflects the ongoing commitment to fostering exchange, learning, and collaboration between European institutions and local partners working towards shared values and sustainable progress.

 

 

Skopje 29 June 2026
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Welcome to the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje

North Macedonia became the 38th member State of the Council of Europe on 9 November 1995 and is actively involved in all aspects of the mission and work of our Organisation to promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje was established in 2012, covering a variety of co-operation projects.

Working in close collaboration with the national authorities, representatives of the civil society and other partners, the Office is currently implementing key European Union and Council of Europe joint programmes. In particular the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye (Horizontal Facility III) focus is on the reform in the justice system, fight against economic crime, promoting anti-discrimination and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups as well as improving the application of the European standards in the field of freedom of expression and freedom of the media.

Moreover, to promote democracy and human rights in and through education and equip young people with the competences to live in a multicultural society, the Quality Education for All – Building Democratic Resilience – North Macedonia project is implemented with funding by Germany.

Additional co-operation activities are carried out in the framework of key regional joint programmes with the European Union, focused on enhancing the role and capacities of local authorities in the Western Balkans in implementing and monitoring the Reform Agendas under the EU’s Reform and Growth Facility (LORAI), and fighting cybercrime (CyberSEE).

More information on North Macedonia and Council of Europe

HORIZONTAL FACILITY III ACTIONS IN NORTH MACEDONIA

EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS