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
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page

What is the Horizontal Facility?


The joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal Facility III) is a co-operation initiative and one of the results of the Statement of Intent signed on 1 April 2014 by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, in which both Organisations agreed to further strengthen their co-operation in key areas of joint interest.

The programme is ongoing since 2016 and the third phase begun in January 2023 for a period of 48 months. The third phase of the programme (worth €41 million (85% funded by the EU, 15% by the CoE) keeps building on the results of the previous phases and it combines Beneficiary-specific and regional actions.

It enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.

Themes covered by the Horizontal Facility include:

  • strengthening justice
  • fighting corruption, economic crime and money laundering
  • promoting anti-discrimination and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups (including LGBTI, minorities and Roma) and
  • promoting and protecting freedom of expression and media

The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism that provides legislative expertise and policy advice within the Council of Europe system remains also an important part of the programme available to all Beneficiaries.

The Horizontal Facility relies on the Council of Europe’s unique working methods, whereby tailor-made technical co-operation activities are based on conclusions and recommendations of the Council of Europe’s monitoring bodies highlight areas where improvements are needed in legislation and policies of the Beneficiaries to comply with the Organisation’s treaties and other standards.

 

Which Horizontal Facility actions are being implemented in North Macedonia?


In North Macedonia, the following actions are currently being implemented: