Cal Poly Humboldt researchers traveled to North Macedonia in summer 2024 to participate in the excavation Deep beneath the soil of North Macedonia, near the village of Crnobuki, a long-lost city is emerging from the shadows of history. For decades, archaeologists believed these ruins were simply the remains of a Roman-era military outpost But new findings are rewriting the story of this site—now known as Gradishte—and uncovering what may be one of the most important cities in early European history Although Gradishte was first mentioned in literature in 1966 little was known about it until recent years It was only through careful excavation and the use of remote-sensing tools like LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and ground-penetrating radar that the full scope of the site began to appear In 2023, a research team led by North Macedonia’s Institute and Museum–Bitola and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) uncovered the foundations of an acropolis that spans over seven acres The size and layout revealed that this was not just a defensive post an archaeologist and anthropology professor at Cal Poly Humboldt describes the find as “a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.” According to him the acropolis was designed to protect an entire population from attack “We see the array of infrastructure required to hold a city inside fortress walls,” he said that the fortress was designed to hold a city.” One of the more surprising finds was a small clay theater ticket. Most ancient theater tickets were made of metal and reused, making this discovery especially rare. “There’s never been a location in North Macedonia with a theater ticket that didn’t have a theater,” Angeloff said. Using LiDAR data the team believes they’ve located what appears to be a Macedonian-style theater—not a Roman one—adding further weight to the city’s early origins The most groundbreaking find was a coin minted between 325 and 323 BCE—during the lifetime of Alexander the Great This coin pushed the city’s timeline back more than a century earlier than researchers had thought they believed the city had been built during the reign of King Philip V Other recovered items include stone axes, fragments of ceramic vessels and even a possible clay ticket to a theatrical performance These artifacts suggest the city was not only inhabited during Alexander’s time but may have been settled as far back as the Bronze Age Carbon dating of bones and charcoal found at the site places its use between 360 BCE and 670 AD That wide range shows the city’s long period of influence from before the rise of the Roman Empire to well into the early medieval period “This discovery is significant,” Angeloff explained “It highlights the complex networks and power structures of ancient Macedonia especially given the city’s location along trade routes to Constantinople.” Some historians believe famous military leaders such as Octavian and Agrippa may have passed through this city on their way to fight Cleopatra and Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium. Such connections place the site not just on the map of ancient Macedonia but at the crossroads of broader world history the theory that this site was the capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis grows stronger The kingdom was settled in the 7th century BCE and later absorbed by King Philip II “Every indication is pointing toward this being the city of Lyncus, within Lyncestis,” said Angeloff. Historical records suggest Queen Eurydice I, Alexander’s grandmother, may have been born here. Her political influence helped shape the rise of Macedonia and its push toward empire “The ancient Macedonian state played a major role in the world’s history,” said Engin Nasuh, curator-advisor archaeologist at the National Institute and Museum–Bitola. “It is a civilization that helped shape today’s understanding of the world and the desire to connect different civilizations and cultures.” The potential for discovery doesn’t end there with teams of students and researchers from both the National Institute and Cal Poly Humboldt continuing to explore the site This project has used some of the most advanced tools in modern archaeology. LiDAR, funded by Cal Poly Humboldt’s College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences allowed researchers to see beneath dense vegetation and soil This helped them map structures that are invisible to the naked eye Angeloff explained how the technology has reshaped the dig “We were able to overlay and see what was underneath the ground,” he said has enough rooms and infrastructure to support a city within fortress walls.” This technology-driven approach has also helped prove something long suspected: the ruins once seen as minor are part of a much larger and older network of cities These settlements formed the backbone of Macedonian power and culture long before Rome ever crossed the region’s borders Nasuh believes each new artifact is part of a larger historical picture. “All these studies are just a small part of the research of early European civilizations,” he said and our studies are just a few pebbles in that mosaic the story of ancient Macedonia becomes clearer Note: The article above provided above by The Brighter Side of News Like these kind of feel good stories? Get The Brighter Side of News' newsletter Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The collapse of Yugoslavia led the Republic of Macedonia to declare its independence on September 17 The mobility of Earth’s crust has also created two tectonic lakes, Prespa and Ohrid in the southwest and has resulted in the formation of several mineral springs and hot springs There are also several broad and fertile valleys that provide good potential for agriculture North Macedonia stands at the junction of two main climatic zones, the Mediterranean and the continental air breaks through mountain barriers to the north and south bringing dramatically contrasting weather patterns; one example is the cold northerly wind known as the vardarec there is a moderate continental climate: temperatures average in the low 30s F (about 0 °C) in January and rise to the high 60s and 70s F (about 20–25 °C) in July between about 20 and 28 inches (about 500 and 700 mm) Rainfalls of less than 1 inch (25.4 mm) in the driest months (July–August) rise to nearly 4 inches (about 100 mm) in October–November Because of differences in local aspect and relief there may be considerable variation in the climate the eastern areas tending to have milder winters and hotter drier summers and the western (more mountainous) regions having more severe winters About  .  Contact  .  Donation Archaeologists in North Macedonia have uncovered the remains of a possibly long-lost ancient city far more ancient and important than previously known the Gradishte archaeological site was widely believed to have been a 3rd-century BCE Macedonian outpost in the time of King Philip V recent discoveries by a collaborative research team of the National Institute and Museum–Bitola and California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) have revealed a much deeper and richer history the excavation took a thrilling turn when the team unearthed a coin that dates between 325 and 323 BCE The discovery pushed the time period for peak activity at the site back to the period before previously thought to have occurred during the reign of Philip V (221–179 BCE) Additional carbon dating of organic materials such as charcoal and bone has placed the site from circa 360 BCE to as recent as 670 CE “This is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery,” said Nick Angeloff an anthropology professor and archaeologist with Cal Poly Humboldt “It highlights the complex networks and power structures of ancient Macedonia especially given the city’s location along trade routes to Constantinople It’s even possible that historical figures like Octavian and Agrippa passed through the area on their way to confront Cleopatra and Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium,” added Angeloff Angeloff and his team believe the location may be Lyncus the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis—an autonomous Macedonian kingdom that resisted conquest until conquered by Philip II It may also be the birthplace of Queen Eurydice I who was politically influential and a key figure in the early formation of the Macedonian state curator-advisor archaeologist at the National Institute and Museum–Bitola stressed the importance of the rediscovery of the site “We’re only beginning to scratch the surface of what we can learn about this period until one day we get the entire picture.” Nasuh also pointed out that the Gradishte site was first mentioned in literature in 1966 but remained Humanities & Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt for providing funding advanced tools have now revealed the city’s size such as a seven-acre acropolis and what may be a Macedonian-style theater and textile workshop it appears the city was a focal point in Upper Macedonia that influenced trade the team of researchers is looking forward to uncovering even more information about the role this city played in the overall history of early European cultures and how they are connected to the rise of the ancient Macedonian state More information: Cal Poly Humboldt Did anyone not realize that it would be useful and appropriate to either include the geographical location or provide a map for this interesting The exact location is sometimes withheld for various reasons If you’re a researcher and need precise location details for academic purposes you may contact the responsible university for more details and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Remains of what may be the ancient capital city of the Kingdom of Lyncestis have been found in North Macedonia Archaeologists working in North Macedonia may have discovered the remains of Lyncus an ancient city that was the capital of the Kingdom of Lyncestis More analysis is needed to support the finding but, if confirmed, the discovery could reveal the location of the place where Alexander the Great's paternal grandmother was born Lyncestis was a small kingdom that flourished in North Macedonia which was incorporated into the Macedonian Empire during the reign of King Philip II (359 to 336 B.C.) the mother of Philip II and grandmother of Alexander (who reigned from 336 to 323 B.C.) The survey revealed that the city had an acropolis that's at least 7 acres (2.8 hectares) in size Besides the remains of a textile workshop and what appears to be a theater the archaeologists also found a variety of artifacts game pieces and even a theater ticket made of clay (Image credit: Courtesy of Cal Poly Humboldt's Cultural Resources Facility)A ceramic token found in 2023 indicates that the site has a yet-to-be excavated theater (Image credit: Courtesy of Cal Poly Humboldt's Cultural Resources Facility)A coin found at the site that was minted while Alexander the Great was still alive researchers thought that the city was built long after Alexander the Great's death during the reign of Philip V (221 to 179 B.C.) But the discovery of a coin minted between 325 and 323 B.C indicates that it was in use during Alexander's lifetime Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox —Ancient tomb really does hold Alexander the Great's father, controversial study claimsSecrets of Alexander the Great mosaic revealed after 1st-of-its-kind analysisEurope's oldest known village teetered on stilts over a Balkan lake 8,000 years ago the team of archaeologists unearthed axes and fragments of ceramic vessels at the site which shows that this site has been occupied by humans as far back as the Bronze Age (3300 to 1200 B.C.) The site's discovery may shed more light on an influential kingdom a curator at Macedonia's National Institute and Bitola Museum and one of the lead archaeologists said in the statement that ancient Macedonia was "a civilization that played a major role in today's understanding of the world and the desire to connect different civilizations and cultures." Editor's note: This story was first published on April 11 Owen JarusSocial Links NavigationLive Science ContributorOwen Jarus is a regular contributor to Live Science who writes about archaeology and humans' past He has also written for The Independent (UK) The Canadian Press (CP) and The Associated Press (AP) Owen has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University.  you will then be prompted to enter your display name Hårby Valkyrie: A 1,200-year-old gold Viking Age woman sporting a sword Archaeologists discover hundreds of metal objects up to 3,400 years old on mysterious volcanic hilltop in Hungary Looking back at thousands of years of history from the picturesque shores of Lake Ohrid A groundbreaking new paper in the Journal of Archaeological Science has discredited a long-standing theory about one of the most famous royal tombs from ancient Greece Long believed to be the grave of Philip II of Macedon the so-called Tomb of Persephone at the Vergina Great Tumulus might contain the bones of another is part of the royal burial complex at Aigai (now Vergina) in northern Greece the complex comprises several tombs thought to belong to the Argead dynasty many experts asserted that Tomb I contained the remains of Philip II and his infant son—all of whom were said to be murdered in 336 BCE possibly on the orders of Philip’s former wife Olympias so that the throne would be secure for her son Alexander Yannis Maniatis and an international team of archaeologists and chemists presents a different scenario Employing a suite of modern techniques—radiocarbon dating and osteological examination—the researchers re-evaluated the skeletal remains Their evidence conclusively rules out the theory that Philip II and his family were buried in Tomb I The analysis showed that the male individual buried in the tomb was between 25 and 35 years old and stood about 167 cm tall The calibrated radiocarbon dates place his death between 388 and 356 BCE—at least two decades before Philip II was assassinated were also found and appear to date to the same time “These findings exclude any association of this burial with Philip II of Macedon (died in 336 BCE) as proposed by some authors,” the scientists wrote in their article well known for its beautiful frescoes depicting the Abduction of Persephone That initial opening could have paved the way for later intrusions as additional remains of at least six infants dating back to the Roman period (150 BCE to 130 CE) these were likely interred when Roman-era parents used the tomb as a burial site for deceased newborns While the adult male and female appear to have been high-ranking individuals The beauty of the tomb and wall paintings suggests that the man may have been a royal Others have speculated that the occupants may be Amyntas III (Alexander’s grandfather) or his sons who both died during the newly established time frame Strontium-isotope analysis also indicated that the male spent his childhood outside the region of Pella or Vergina appeared to be a native of the greater Pella area and presumably died there the researchers suggest that previous assumptions about the occupants of the tomb are no longer scientifically tenable Even though the true identities of those buried are still unknown the work offers a substantial revision of our understanding of Macedonian royal tombs your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt First discovered in the 1960s, archaeologists have spent the last 15 years believing the Gradishte site was a military outpost to defend against Roman attack from the era of King Philip V (221 BCE to 179 BCE) the site near the Macedonian village of Crnobuki has turned out to be of far more historical significance Archaeologists believe they’ve found the city of Lyncus founded in the northernmost mountain region of Upper Macedonia Lyncestis was an independent polity that held a useful trade route position on the way east to Lydia Eurydice’s son Philip II of Macedon conquered Lyncestis in the 4th century BCE, bringing the independent state into the Kingdom of Macedon to become the king of the Macedonian empire “It is a civilization that played a major role in today's understanding of the world and the desire to connect different civilizations and cultures,” Engin Nasuh curator-advisor archaeologist at the National Institute and Museum–Bitola says The discovery of an Alexander the Great-era coin first suggested that the site was from an older period North Macedonia’s Institute and Museum-Bitola and the California State Polytechnic University in Humboldt researchers used radar and LiDAR scanning to uncover the site What they discovered was a seven acre acropolis that included a Macedonian theatre and a textile workshop. They continued to discover multiple stone axes There’s now evidence that the site was occupied by humans since at least the Bronze Age (3,300-1,200 BCE) especially given the city’s location along trade routes to Constantinople,” Nick Angeloff an archaeologist at Cal Poly Humboldt called the Gradishte discovery “This discovery is significant,” says Angeloff especially given the city's location along trade routes to Constantinople It’s even possible that historical figures like Octavian and Agrippa passed through the area on their way to confront Cleopatra and Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium.” “All these studies are just a small part of the research of early European civilizations,” Nasuh says for the victims of a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani Protesters hold a banner that reads “The system is next” during a rally Protesters light their mobile phones during a rally Demonstrators marched past government offices and parliament and applauded medical staff at a nearby hospital for their response to the tragedy “We want to continue living (in North Macedonia) but we need to feel safe,” Milena Janevska “We expect all those responsible for the tragedy in Kocani to be held accountable.” The protests reflect growing frustration with the government’s handling of the disaster The opposition Social Democrats called for the resignation of Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski The corruption investigation into the fire has led to 13 arrests including a former finance minister and seven senior police officers Authorities are investigating bribery allegations and whether the club’s operating permits were illegally obtained Health Minister Arben Taravari said 115 injured victims of the fire were still receiving treatment abroad Those who attended the silent vigil held black balloons and placards Our Lives.” Some local residents joined them Twelve survivors of the fire are currently hospitalized in Greek civilian and military hospitals many with severe burns and lung damage from smoke inhalation which is close to the border with North Macedonia Eurovoix INFE North Macedonia is the twelfth fan club to reveal its points in the INFE Poll 2025 The ninth edition of the INFE Poll has continued with the twelfth set of results from INFE North Macedonia INFE is the International Network of Fanclubs of Eurovision and is formed of twenty-five clubs across the continent the club has been voting ahead of the contest on their favourite acts Australia and Montenegro have now received their first points in the INFE Poll 2025 Image source: EBU / Nathan Reinds | Source: ESC Today North Macedonia (previously competing as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 two years earlier they attempted to participate but were knocked out in the pre-qualifying round In 2016 they were represented by Kaliopi for a second time with the song “Dona” she missed out on the final finishing in 11th in her semi-final North Macedonia’s best result to date is a 7th place finish in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest represented by Tamara Todevska and the song “Proud” it has been a pleasure to find out more about this amazing continent through the Eurovision Family of Events it's been brilliant to see the site grow and flourish and continue to bring our readers everything from the world of Eurovision KVF in the Faroe Islands will be airing ESC 2025 Health Systems in Action Insight Series (2024) Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Sixteen graves have been dug at a local cemetary in Kocani on Monday ahead of funerals of the nightclub fire victims A grieving father said his son died trying to save others during a weekend inferno in a North Macedonia nightclub as the nation grapples with the loss of dozens of young lives A fire has torn through an overcrowded nightclub in North Macedonia killing 59 and injuring 155 during a concert cries holding a photograph of his son Tomche Stojanov one of the victims of a massive nightclub fire during a vigil joined by hundreds in the town of Kocani A girl cries as she wait in line to write condolence messages for the victims of a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani Women cry during a vigil for the victims of a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani Relatives of victims leave a hospital in the town of Kocani following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday Women cry and wait in line to write condolence messages for the victims of a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani Protesters hold placards as they march during protest following a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani People hit a car on its side while protesting near the home of the owner of a nightclub that was the scene of a massive fire after a vigil for the victims in the town of Kocani outside the home of the owner of a nightclub that was the scene of a massive fire People wait in line to write condolence messages for the victims of a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani Condolence messages for the victims of a massive nightclub fire are written in the town of Kocani for the victims of a massive nightclub fire Youngsters light candles for the victims of a massive nightclub fire early Sunday in the town of Kocani A woman writes a condolence message for the victims of a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani The building of a nightclub is damaged following a massive fire early Sunday in the town of Kocani Support beams are charred in the partially collapsed roof of the building of a nightclub damaged following a massive fire early Sunday in the town of Kocani A charred ventilator on the wall of a nightclub building An aerial photograph shows the site of a nightclub in the town of Kocani A woman walks past North Macedonia flags flapping in the wind at half staff in front of a Government building in Skopje following a massive fire in the nightclub in the town of Kocani North Macedonia (AP) — As families gathered at a hospital for updates Tomco Stojanov already knew his son’s devastating fate: 25-year-old Andrej died trying to save others in a nightclub fire that left dozens dead in North Macedonia including many trampled during a desperate bid to escape “He died while returning and entering to save other people North Macedonia is grappling with the loss of dozens of young lives in Sunday’s nightclub inferno in the eastern town of Kocani and trying to hold those responsible to account and prevent another calamity Dragi Stojanov cries holding a photograph of his son Tomche Stojanov Authorities were investigating allegations of bribery surrounding the fire in the nightclub which was crammed with young revelers and at double capacity Kocani’s mayor resigned Monday over the emerging scandal Videos showed sparkling pyrotechnics on the stage hitting the club’s ceiling and igniting the blaze as a band played Bribes to authorities to skip licensing requirements and skirt safety regulations are commonplace in North Macedonia practices that have caught the attention of Western governments The European Union has repeatedly expressed concerns over pervasive corruption in the country identifying it as a major obstacle to the country’s accession to the bloc Silent protests against corruption were held Monday in Kocani joined by thousands of residents and separately by university students in Skopje that is what we all expect so that there are no such similar situations in the future,” Stavre Janev said at the Kocani protest with some toppling a van and smashing windows of a storefront — both belonging to one of the club owners as a president,” North Macedonian President Gordana Davkova Siljanovska said in an address to the nation Sunday night North Macedonia’s government ordered a sweeping three-day inspection to be carried out at all nightclubs and cabarets across the country State prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski said a preliminary inspection of the Club Pulse nightclub had revealed numerous safety code violations an insufficient number of fire extinguishers and improper access for emergency vehicles The fire caused the roof of the single-story building to partially collapse revealing the charred remains of wooden beams and debris I can confidently say that this is a failure of the system,” the prosecutor told reporters also noting the lack of an overhead extinguisher system and fire alarms and the use of flammable materials to line the inside walls Interior Minister Panche Toshevski said it appeared the club’s owners paid bribes to former officials to issue a forged license and turn a blind eye to the venue operating far beyond capacity and in violation of fire code Former economy minister Khreshnik Beteshi was being questioned at a police station in Skopje The country was in mourning as people watched harrowing scenes in the town of 25,000 people where rescuers for hours carried out the grim task of removing the charred bodies of clubgoers A state coroner said the bodies were being brought for identification in batches from morgues due to the high number of people killed Flags around the country have been lowered to half-staff with 20 of the injured in critical condition Serbia and Turkey — along with a number of others have already accepted some 50 patients with the most serious injuries while several countries are also sending medical teams to North Macedonia “All patients who have been transferred abroad are currently in stable condition We hope it stays that way and that we will receive positive news from abroad,” Taravari said Officials said 10 people remain in police custody for questioning in Kocani some 115 kilometers (72 miles) east of the capital Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski added that a preliminary inspection revealed the club was operating without a proper license He said the number of people inside the club was at least double its official capacity of 250 Condolences poured in from leaders around Europe as well as from the office of the hospitalized Pope Francis A toy and flowers are placed next to condolence books for the victims of a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani Kocani’s residents held a candlelight vigil in support of mourning families waiting in long lines to light church candles said North Macedonia has never experienced a tragedy like this with dozens of young people vanishing in minutes She noted that many young people with bright futures had already left the nation North Macedonia “is on its death bed,” Delovska said the health system is completely dismantled judiciary is partisan and corrupt to the bone,” she said “I do believe now that only God can save (North) Macedonia.” A protester holds her mobile phone as thousands gather for the victims of a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani A man lights candles during a vigil in the town of Kocani 2025 following a massive fire in a nightclub early Sunday Thousands gather in protest for the victims of a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani People attend a vigil in the town of Kocani People light candles as thousands gather in protest for the victims of a massive nightclub fire in the town of Kocani North Macedonia (AP) — The deadly nightclub fire in North Macedonia at the weekend has struck the young of this country the most with the emotional devastation it brought apparent everywhere already doubtful about its future amid the young republic’s economic troubles has been at the forefront of an outpouring of grief and anger The disaster also exposed deep-seated frustrations among them 14-year-old Mila Krstevska said she is shocked and disappointed “I am very angry about everything that happened,” she told The Associated Press “It’s a sad thing to go to a disco to have fun and then turn to ashes.” “I am disappointed in our country,” she added nia but I would like to go abroad when I am older.” North Macedonia’s unemployment rate is 12.8% according to the International Monetary Fund Almost one-fifth of those aged 15-24 are neither working nor in school or getting training according to most-recent data from the International Labor Organization The tiny Balkan nation has been on the candidate list to join the European Union for 20 years but the process has been held up by disputes with neighbors and the slow pace of vital reforms undermined by volatile partisan politics and stagnation Polling in 2024 shows that they support EU membership but less than 20% believe their nation will join within five years The Berlin-based monitor Transparency International ranked North Macedonia in 88th place globally on its Corruption Perception Index last year Authorities say Club Pulse had numerous and serious safety violations while Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the venue’s operating licence was for the wrong type of establishment and potentially obtained illegally tomorrow other buildings or schools will burn if the situation continues to be like this (with corruption),” Veljko Krstevski a security guard at the club who survived the fire “At the same time we also know that many of our politicians with forged diplomas are taking high positions Then how do you expect people in this town to feel like that there can be any change?” Sunday’s fire is the first major tragedy for their generation born after North Macedonia’s independence from war-torn former Yugoslavia Candlelight vigils and demonstrations in the wake of the tragedy have been led by the young angry and very sad… I’m angry at everything at people who failed to align with security measures at parents who didn’t stop their kids from going to the nightclub,” said Aleksandra Petrovska placing thin yellow candles in trays of sand Justice!” overturned a van as police stood by without stepping in then used chairs and umbrella stands to trash a cafeteria run by one of the nightclub’s owners television presenters are dressed in black on air Flowers and candles are left in central locations of every town and city Skopje social worker and therapist Tanja Marcekic said the fire has profoundly impacted young people “There is a sense of revolt and great dissatisfaction “I also see another side of young people — how they organize themselves Maybe that is the best way to improve their mental health.” who left North Macedonia to pursue a better life in Germany used to visit the nightclub when they were still in school “This could have happened to anyone,” he said Associated Press writer Derek Gatopoulos in Athens contributed to this report North Macedonia — A massive fire tore through a nightclub in North Macedonia 's eastern town of Kocani early Sunday during a concert by a local pop group at Club Pulse Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski told reporters He said 39 of the dead had so far been identified pyrotechnics likely caused the roof to catch fire with young people running through the smoke as the musicians urged people to escape as quickly as possible As relatives gathered outside hospitals to await news Kocani resident Dragi Stojanov was informed that his 21-year-old son Tomce had died in the fire "One hundred and fifty families have been devastated." Officials said the injured have been taken to hospitals around the country The effort was being assisted by multiple volunteer organizations Health Minister Arben Taravari said 118 people have been hospitalized adding that he had received offers of assistance from neighboring countries "All our capabilities have been put to use in a maximum effort to save as many lives as possible of the young people involved in this tragedy," Taravari told reporters This is the worst tragedy in recent memory to befall the landlocked nation President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited burn victims at a hospital in Skopje and spoke to parents waiting outside the building hard to believe how this happened," she said "We must give these young people courage to continue." Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski wrote: "This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia The loss of so many young lives is irreparable Family members gathered in front of hospitals and city offices in Kocani some 115 kilometers (72 miles) east of Skopje The club was in an old building that was previously a carpet warehouse and has been running for several years Police cordoned off the site and sent in evidence gathering teams in an operation also involving state prosecutors said several people were being questioned by police but gave no further details and stressed that the cause of the blaze was still being investigated Interior ministry officials said authorities would investigate the venue's licensing and safety provisions adding that the government had a "moral responsibility" to help prosecute anyone responsible but he didn't provide details on the person's involvement As they awoke to news of the overnight tragedy the country's immediate neighbors and leaders from further afield in Europe sent condolences posted on X that she was "deeply saddened" and said the 27-nation bloc "shares the grief and pain of the people of North Macedonia." North Macedonia is a candidate for EU membership Condolences also poured in from politicians across the region including Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery Ukraine mourns alongside our (North) Macedonian friends on this sad day," Zelenskyy wrote on X Pyrotechnics have often been the cause of deadly fires in nightclubs including the one at the Colectiv club in Bucharest Become an NPR sponsor español  français DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “I'm grateful for North Macedonia's formal acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies North Macedonia's acceptance demonstrates its commitment to the multilateral trading system and the WTO and underscores all members' shared interest in responsible fisheries resource management This acceptance provides further momentum for the entry into force of this important agreement for people and the planet.” Bilali said: “By joining this agreement North Macedonia reaffirms its dedication to the conservation of marine resources and the fight against harmful subsidies that contribute to overfishing.” North Macedonia's instrument of acceptance brings to 91 the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the Agreement Twenty more formal acceptances are needed for the Agreement to come into effect The Agreement will enter into force upon acceptance by two-thirds of the membership Adopted by consensus at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world's fish stocks the Agreement recognizes the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries and establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal and for fishing on the unregulated high seas Members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiations on outstanding issues with a view to adopting additional provisions that would further enhance the disciplines of the Agreement Problems viewing this page? If so, please contact [email protected] giving details of the operating system and web browser you are using Photo: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock The very first Twinning project in North Macedonia implemented in 2004-2005 provided a real breakthrough experience for the Macedonian administration in terms of the acquis and all the steps needed in the country's accession to the EU was very enthusiastic about providing its very fresh accession experience the Slovenian counterparts provided very frank advice on the ways forward in the EU accession process It was a very complex Twinning project with an extensive team consisting of 64 experts coming to assist various institutions in North Macedonia Project outcomes include an electronic archiving application and database at the Secretariat of Legislation as well as numerous law amendment proposals including the Law on Civil Servants and amending the rules of procedure Macedonian Assembly Here is how the project is remembered today by the two project leaders Former Deputy Minister for European affairs from Slovenia and Dragan Tilev State Counselor for EU Affairs from North Macedonia: Andrej Engelman: It was the first Slovenian Twinning launched just a few months after our accession to the EU Slovenian experts were very keen to share their very fresh knowledge and experiences they were met by partners who were highly motivated to receive assistance and implement the proposed recommendations I am convinced that these two facts were key to the successful implementation of the project The project has achieved many results: coordination structures for EU accession were established within the Government and with the Parliament draft laws and guidance documents in the field of Internal Market were prepared; a terminology database was set up nomotechnical guidelines for the transposition of the acquis have been drawn up knowledge and awareness about the EU were substantially raised among the Macedonian administration the most valuable outcome of the project is the long-lasting partnership between experts We are still in contact and regularly exchange our views even 18 years after the project has ended Dragan Tilev: The Macedonian first-ever Twinning project is one of the best experiences in my long professional career working on the EU integration process of my country It was successful to the level that has exceeded all our expectations right after the historic Thessaloniki Summit in 2003 we were allowed for the first time to benefit from the TAIEX and Twinning Thanks to the assistance and guidance from the Slovenian administration we successfully completed the Questionnaire and became a candidate country in 2005 completely ready to start accession negotiations in 2006 Slovenian relevant experience helped us to reorganise our EU integration institutional coordination mechanism and to raise the level of the Sector of EU integration to a level of the Secretariat for European Affairs at the beginning of 2005 The established EU coordination structure is still in place and fully functional which shows that the project is sustainable up to the present day The work of the Twinning project in the Parliament was really a pioneering effort and the three-day workshop was even broadcast on television The experience and knowledge of Slovenian experts thanks to excellent project leadership and precise planning were also spread throughout several line ministries responsible in the area of the internal market one of the most important sectors within the EU-North Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Agreement The friendship established through this Twinning lasts over all these years to the current day and was a kind of entry ticket for further assistance in the following years recalled that the Prespa Agreement was signed and ratified in 2018 a process that was followed by an unsuccessful referendum and constitutional changes legally became the Republic of North Macedonia  Underscoring that “what is legal is not always just and legitimate” it has not acted in accordance with the right to self-determination  “The line that divides the legal from the just is sometimes merely a crack but other times it is a deep gap and even an abyss,” she said adding that such abyss most often and most severely affects the small nations  She also stressed that her country’s European Union membership — after 20 years of negotiations — resembles Mr encouraged by international representatives with the refrain “just this one condition more” The stagnation of the European integration not only demotivates her country’s citizens and slows down reforms but also destabilizes the region of South-East Europe  “Enlargement must be tied to the meritocratic Copenhagen criteria and freed from the veto linked to the attempt to revise history and disrespect national and cultural identity,” she said calling for fair unblocking of the negotiations for European Union membership and rejecting double standards  “The European reunification is like an unfinished symphony without us,” she stated noting that the full integration of the Balkans into the bloc will end the redrawing of borders and balkanization as a phenomenon In the most famous dialogue about power and justice Thucydides recalls that “justice is a word that has value in disputes between men only when both sides are of equal strength; in other cases “the UN exists to ennoble the cruel Thucydian world by securing legal equality among nations taming the power of the great and protecting small nations”  The Organization exists to bridge — or at least narrow — the gap between the legal and the just  While the UN has prevented another world war it failed to prevent and preclude regional conflicts including the war in Ukraine and the bloodshed in the Middle East It has lifted millions of people from poverty but still fails to eradicate hunger  With the right to self-determination it accelerated the process of decolonization but failed to bridge the gap between the rich North and the poor South is “the ultimate instance of justice between States” yet its judgments are not always implemented or even treated as advice  The world is going through a turbulent geopolitical technological and industrial transformation in which man has a huge impact on the planet  “And instead of increased cooperation and action on pressing issues the geopolitical rivalry and the new arms race are intensifying that are rapidly pushing us towards a state resembling a new second cold war and Orwell’s world too,” she cautioned  To overcome political marginalization a new spirit of multilateralism is needed to alleviate geopolitical rivalries and increase cooperation among States  “Only a fundamentally reformed United Nations can bridge the gap between the legal and the just and contribute to a truly transformed world in which no one is left behind and forgotten,” she declared Listen to and download the full statement in mp3 format UN PhotoPrevious sessionsAccess the statements from previous sessions You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed highly relevant issue briefs and reports that break new ground with a focus on advancing debates by integrating foundational research and analysis with concrete policy solutions the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox New Atlanticist is where top experts and policymakers at the Atlantic Council and beyond offer exclusive insight on the most pressing global challenges—and the United States’ role in addressing them alongside its allies and partners A weekly column by Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe Inflection Points focuses on the global challenges facing the United States and how to best address them UkraineAlert is a comprehensive online publication that provides regular news and analysis on developments in Ukraine’s politics UkraineAlert sources analysis and commentary from a wide-array of thought-leaders and activists from Ukraine and the global community MENASource offers the latest news from across the Middle East and independent analysis from fellows and staff Econographics provides an in-depth look at trends in the global economy utilizing state-of-the-art data visualization tools the conservative center-right opposition Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization–Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) rode its own wave of dissatisfaction with the slow pace of EU integration burdened by bilateral demands from Bulgaria and unrealized domestic reforms The partners have agreed on a set of priorities that include the economy A slew of urgent tasks lies ahead for the new government in these areas but also in tackling other pressing challenges regarding youth and emigration as well as cooperation with civil society Addressing these priorities—domestically and internationally—will require astutely walking a tightrope amid citizens’ demands for a change in the status quo While the transatlantic community will remain preoccupied with a political transition in the European Union (EU) and elections the United States over the next six months the new government in North Macedonia will have time to prepare its reform agenda and engage international partners on achieving common goals The modus operandi of all Macedonian governments since independence is no longer tenable A paradigm shift is needed to pursue reforms that benefit all North Macedonia’s citizens This policy brief is a compilation of expert analyses that serve as a kind of reform agenda—a road map of policy recommendations for the new Macedonian government in several key areas the coalition partners have already identified as priorities The first section by Branimir Jovanović outlines how the government can revive the fragile economy and deliver on important public investments The second section by Malinka Ristevska Jordanova argues the need to shift the EU narrative in North Macedonia and double down on reforms at home to unlock the path to EU accession The third section by Biljana Ivanovska outlines how the new government can reduce risk factors for corruption and take a holistic approach to tackling the problem The fourth section by Sara Milenkovska looks at how the new government can improve the approach to youth policies and address the challenges confronting the country’s youth the fifth section by Lura Pollozhani provides a series of recommendations for how civil society can better engage the new government and how the government can reap the benefits of a constructive partnership with the country’s civic sector The brief concludes with a section outlining all these tangible policy recommendations for North Macedonia’s new government These recommendations will serve as a useful tool for civil society and the international community in advocating for North Macedonia’s further democratic progress and European integration North Macedonia’s new government faces several challenges These are not limited to the dire fiscal situation and the tricky task of supporting a faltering economy while working within budgetary constraints They also include deep-seated structural issues born from decades of governments pursuing a flawed economic model the money was still spent and will continue to be spent The second challenge will be supporting the fragile economy, which grew just 1.2 percent in the first quarter of 2024 Even this modest growth was largely due to the generous fiscal package mentioned above the new government must think of something quickly if it wants to avoid a recession Mickoski did not say how he plans to support the economy only cryptically stating his preference for investment over public consumption This suggests that the economy is likely to decelerate in the second half of the year and might even slip into a recession after the expiration of the current fiscal package Most troubling, VMRO-DPMNE’s electoral program lacks the structural reforms needed to address North Macedonia’s outdated economic model It merely echoes programs from former prime minister Nikola Gruevski’s time in office recycling outdated concepts such as the regulatory guillotine offering public-sector employees to private firms and closing old and opening new state agencies and ministries In addition to securing a loan to address the country’s urgent fiscal challenges the new government must enhance fiscal revenues over a longer term by implementing a progressive tax system It should impose higher taxes on higher-income brackets the government should increase the minimum wage it should accelerate public investments in infrastructure Finally, structural reforms are crucial to overhaul the outdated economic model. The government should introduce a strategic industrial policy to support key economic sectors fostering innovation and international competitiveness Investments in public services such as education and social protection need to be significantly increased to enhance the quality of life and productivity The current exploitative model must be replaced with one that emphasizes equality and ensures the benefits of growth are broadly shared across the population rather than captured by a small Macedonia’s (imposed) bilateral agreements with Greece and Bulgaria have become a tool for these neighboring countries—EU and NATO members—to further exert pressure on the Macedonian side for concessions on issues of identity and history rather than serve as a demonstration of solidarity while the enlargement process has returned to the EU agenda with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine it did not actually make the EU perspective for Western Balkan countries the EU enlargement agenda was tied to the future EU internal reform agenda and new proposals for gradual or partial integration of the Western Balkan countries came to the forefront Lacking the majority in the Macedonian parliament needed to deliver the promised first step in fulfilling Bulgaria’s numerous conditions—constitutional amendment to include the 3,504 Macedonian citizens that identify as ethnic Bulgarians in the 2022 census as a minority community—the former government (strongly supported by international partners) failed to deliver its promise to the EU Around 65 percent of Macedonian citizens are against the constitutional amendment—80 percent of the majority ethnic Macedonian community is against them while 53 percent of the Albanian ethnic minority community is in favor Nourishing ethnic division and polarization the twisted national European agenda has turned into a perpetual response to vetoes rather than a genuine process of Europeanization Furthermore, marred by “constructiveness” in bilateral relations and promises that EU accession negotiations will automatically bring reform and well-being, backsliding on reforms related to EU membership The distorted EU agenda was a key factor in the opposition VMRO-DPMNE’s victory in the recent parliamentary and presidential elections led by VMRO-DPMNE and largely perceived internationally as “nationalist,” will face a critical challenge: How can it inject credibility into the EU reform process without compromising its promises to the electorate The Macedonian EU narrative needs an essential shift—from fulfilling bilaterally imposed conditions that have nothing to do with EU accession criteria toward genuine economic and normative convergence with the EU Instead of short-term concessions for small rewards a long-term approach that protects national interests should be designed and implemented A consistent and cohesive national strategy for EU accession needs to be developed and meticulously pursued domestically and internationally An inclusive approach based on dialogue and arguments is essential in this process a decisive commitment to upholding EU standards on democracy and the rule of law while at the same time fulfilling the expectations of Macedonian citizens EU-related reforms must be domestically driven and embedded in a consistent Significant improvements are necessary to put the policymaking cycle on track the transposition of the EU acquis should be well-planned and methodologically consistent only depoliticized institutions can support the societal change needed for genuine Europeanization The institutional setup for EU accession negotiations and management of the EU integration process should be streamlined and resources pooled Developing capacity for the absorption of EU funds in parallel with improving the national policymaking process the Macedonian authorities’ dialogue within the region and internationally needs to be significantly intensified and elevated to prevent further bilateralization of the EU accession process and protect crucial national interests Macedonian authorities should take better advantage of their NATO membership as well as membership in other international organizations and foster sustainable and constructive relations with their partners constantly evolving and intertwined with diverse economic The negative effects of corruption are profound and far-reaching Corrupt behavior undermines confidence in institutions and the efficient use of public resources It threatens democracy and the exercise of human rights due to the erosion of social values Through a systematic approach and assessment of corruption risks pertaining to spending public funds or abusing official positions in the public sector, the Macedonian State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption prepared a National Strategy for Prevention of Corruption and Conflict of Interest (2021-2025) was adopted in 2020 by the Assembly of North Macedonia the efficacy of this strategy hinges on the thorough execution of the accompanying Action Plan Corruption manifests through various channels with several common denominators identified across sectors Political interference in the public sphere and a culture of impunity all contribute to its proliferation and inconsistent regulations create fertile ground for corrupt practices to thrive A multifaceted approach is imperative to tackle corruption effectively Strengthening integrity lies at the core of this endeavor Personal and institutional integrity can be strengthened by fostering a merit-based value system and promoting ethical behavior ensuring the impartial enforcement of the rule of law and establishing independent and transparent institutions are vital steps in combating corruption’s entrenched presence Transparency and accountability are powerful weapons in the fight against corruption Embracing digitalization initiatives can enhance transparency and minimize opportunities for malfeasance robust accountability mechanisms must be enforced to hold perpetrators accountable and deter future misconduct Strengthening supervisory and control mechanisms will further bolster anti-corruption efforts providing additional safeguards against the abuse of power.Legislative reforms are indispensable in fortifying the anti-corruption framework Legal accountability must be enforced through rigorous prosecution of corrupt individuals supported by legislation on the origin of property to curtail illicit wealth accumulation protecting whistleblowers and fostering public awareness are necessary to empower citizens to report corruption without fear of reprisal with public officials answerable for their actions and decisions coupled with integrity-driven recruitment and human resource policies are essential to cultivate a culture of accountability within public institutions Institutional capacity-building and strengthening law enforcement agencies equipping them with the resources and expertise to effectively investigate and prosecute corruption cases The private sector also plays a pivotal role in anti-corruption efforts Regulatory frameworks should be implemented to promote transparency and integrity in private-sector operations mitigating the risk of collusion and bribery civil society and media engagement are indispensable in fostering public awareness and scrutiny Cooperation among relevant stakeholders is indispensable in translating anti-corruption rhetoric into tangible action Prioritizing the recommendations of anti-corruption agencies and fostering interstate cooperation can also attract collective expertise and resources to combat corruption effectively at all levels addressing corruption in North Macedonia demands a holistic approach that encompasses legislative reforms and fostering cooperation among stakeholders can pave the way for a more efficient anti-corruption future In Macedonian politics, youth have been paid lip service but have not seen a substantial improvement in their situation. Contrary to the popular narrative in the media that youth in North Macedonia are apathetic, young people have led societal change and played a crucial role in civil society Still, a recent survey by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy shows that young people in North Macedonia are disillusioned and disengaged Only 31 percent of youth surveyed believe the country is moving in the right direction and a mere 3 percent are fully satisfied with their place in society Six out of ten respondents feel they cannot impact government decisions and only 22 percent think the government is addressing youth issues with 71 percent describing themselves as inactive citizens and just 8 percent have tried to solve societal problems 90 percent have never participated in civic or nongovernmental organizations half of all surveyed do not believe voting can influence the country’s situation The NYCM noted that the final document adopted by the government differed from what had been collaboratively created Respondents also pointed to a lack of implementation A key recommendation for further implementation is to introduce a dedicated budget for youth within municipal and state budgets this would ensure transparency and accountability in fund allocation In October 2022, the Agency of Youth and Sport, with the support of the international community and youth organizations, began developing the National Youth Strategy for 2023-2027 This strategic document was supposed to set medium-term goals and priorities for youth policy development and promote the interests of young people in North Macedonia As important as it is that youth organizations are not giving up on these processes there is a need for a strong and clear approach on the part of the government to implement the strategy some of the recommendations that the future government can take include: VMRO-DPMNE doesn’t have a good track record of working with civil society the new government must clearly commit to strengthening civil society engagement to foster stronger partnerships with youth-led organizations and civil society groups that can amplify youth voices and address their concerns effectively The new government has reconstructed the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy to create the Ministry of Social Policy While the new ministry’s scope includes the aspects of youth policy its broader mandate includes many other areas which may dilute the focus on youth if not properly balanced and prioritized North Macedonia can leverage its demographic dividend by focusing on youth empowerment and providing opportunities for meaningful participation Even with the right support systems in place and its youth’s energy and passion a significant transformation across all areas of society cannot occur without a clear political will CSOs “continue to operate in an enabling environment” in North Macedonia more needs to be done to integrate them into the government’s work and to support the inclusion and the work of an independent civil society The government of North Macedonia has a Department for Cooperation with Civil Society Organizations within its General Secretariat. This department follows the implementation of the strategy for cooperation with and development of the civic sector and its 2022-2024 Action Plan which is ongoing and has seriously affected cooperation and trust between the government and the civil sector It has also hampered the implementation of the abovementioned strategy This conflict has exposed the need to make cooperation more organic and less dependent on the politics of the day There needs to be a way to safeguard the environment of CSOs by establishing a secure budgetary framework that is only revised with their input Regarding the visibility of CSOs and their work political participation of marginalized groups one persistent issue is the inclusiveness of these organizations Many CSOs that receive and secure more funding are based in Skopje They are generally organizations with a history of funding making it harder for new players to come along There is also the issue of outreach depending on the CSOs’ target audience posts and publications are rarely translated into local languages other than Macedonian unless the organization’s primary work is on interethnic issues The same goes for the inclusion of other marginalized groups or doubly marginalized groups act as one of the main enablers of democracy in the country An annual session between the government and CSOs should be instituted to assess the government’s priorities as well as the needs of the field arising from the work of CSOs These annual sessions should resemble the government’s regular weekly sessions where ministers provide updates on their ministries’ activities and set out the work envisioned ahead it would be best to set a date and time for these meetings that coincide with the EU Progress Reports CSOs are already included in the Program of the Government but there needs to be more direct contact between ministers and CSO representatives There needs to be more investment in creating an enabling environment for CSOs at the local level This can be achieved by instituting local councils to foster better cooperation between CSOs and local government financial support for the work of CSOs with public money must be based on the needs of CSOs and determined in a consultative process between the government and CSOs the government should also secure a fund for inclusiveness for CSOs that want to reach out to marginalized groups but lack the resources This may include language interpretation and translation or the installation of ramps and other supporting infrastructure CSOs should be encouraged to cooperate by funding projects involving at least one partner from another city and community This would ensure that CSOs connect and engage beyond Skopje North Macedonia is once again at a crossroads the country has the opportunity to move forward It can serve as a success story for the region unable to advance on EU accession and reluctant to implement domestic reforms further becoming a cautionary tale for other countries in the region The EU’s approach to the region and North Macedonia over the past decade or more is partly to blame for the present situation ensure that bilateral issues remain outside of the accession process The Union must regain its credibility in the region and North Macedonia The enlargement process was and should remain based on merits It is in the EU’s own interest that discussions around integration focus on European values and democratic standards not debates about national identity and history By focusing on democratic values and standards from the fight against corruption to improving living standards North Macedonia’s government and citizens will also be reinvigorated to make concrete as described in this brief and outlined below will serve to kickstart this process in North Macedonia and allow it to become the region’s success story curating news on politics and society in North Macedonia Biljana Ivanovska is an economist and currently an adviser at North Macedonia’s Audit Authority for IPA Funds she served as the president of the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (2019–2024) Ivanovska started her career in parliament where she worked for six years in the parliamentary commissions for economic affairs She then continued her work at the Ministry of Finance where she was head of the Budget and Funds Department she spent thirteen years at the State Audit Office as a principal auditor carrying out audits of state bodies Branimir Jovanović is an economist at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies focusing on the economies of the Western Balkans His research primarily explores topics such as economic inequality He served as an adviser to the minister of finance of North Macedonia from 2017 to 2019 and was a researcher at the National Bank of North Macedonia from 2007 to 2015 He also participated in the social protests in his native North Macedonia from 2014 to 2016 Sara Milenkovska is a researcher and co-founder of the Stella Network and inequality from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a master in strategic communications from Institute for Communication Studies Skopje Her research delves into youth and systemic inequality Lura Pollozhani is a researcher at the University of Graz researching social movements in the Western Balkans as well as EU enlargement Her other research interests include radicalization citizenship practices in divided societies She completed her PhD in law and politics at the University of Graz and earned an MSc in European studies: ideas and identities at the London School of Economics Pollozhani worked as an adviser to the prime minister of North Macedonia on cooperation with international organizations between 2019 and 2020 She is one of the co-founders of the Stella Network and is a member of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group Malinka Ristevska Jordanova has been engaged in the EU integration process since the late nineties holding high public administration positions in the Macedonian parliament and government She made special contributions to the candidacy of the Republic of Macedonia for its accession to the EU and road map for visa liberalization Ristevska Jordanova is a former director (from 2011 to February 2017) of the Macedonian think tank European Policy Institute Jordanova has focused on the application of the EU policy of conditionality in the region as well as on the transposition of the EU acquis The Europe Center promotes leadership and forward-looking transatlantic relationship Image: North Macedonian opposition party VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski celebrates with his party members following the parliamentary elections and second round of the presidential election in Skopje Sign up to receive expert analysis from our community on the most important global issues © 2025 Atlantic CouncilAll rights reserved If refreshing the page doesn't resolve the issue you could try clearing the sites browser cache Luxembourg and Norway – made immediate offers of assistance via the mechanism several patients have been evacuated to Hungary by Luxembourg and Romania is transporting patients to Lithuania The EU is now coordinating the transportation of further patients to countries that have offered treatment The EU remains in close contact with the national authorities in North Macedonia and stands ready to mobilise more assistance if needed said: “We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected The EU stands in solidarity with the people of North Macedonia at this difficult time I thank European countries for quickly offering treatment and assistance to the victims via our Civil Protection Mechanism.” North Macedonia abstained from two UN resolutions condemning Russia's aggression in Ukraine a decision that reflected the country’s alignment with its key ally amid complex geopolitical dynamics in Europe the country's Foreign minister has told Euronews in an interview because there was no alignment within the Common Foreign and Security Policy within the European Union we chose to vote aligned with our strategic partner adding: "This means that we do support Ukraine and we do support the necessity of protecting Ukraine's integrity and territorial sovereignty We also agree that there needs to be a path toward peace."  Mucunski justified North Macedonia's stance by highlighting the crucial role of the White House in the ongoing ceasefire talks while acknowledging Ukraine's sovereignty "We absolutely support the process that is being led by the Trump administration as well as the whole team in finding a peaceful solution as soon as possible I think the United States has extremely capable diplomats," Mucunski stated Ukraine is a sovereign nation that must make decisions for itself," he concluded Despite his commitment to maintaining strong ties with the US Mucunski said that North Macedonia remains aligned with European objectives He said that there are three main constants and variables to North Macedonia's foreign policy that it seeks to uphold "One of them is 100% alignment with the EU's common foreign and security policy And the third is our strategic partnership We have a formal strategic partnership with the US," he said 20 years ago North Macedonia applied for EU membership and achieved candidate status but the country’s accession has stalled due to ongoing disputes with Bulgaria over a constitutional change "If we have confidence that there are institutional guarantees in place is playing by the same rules we are when it comes to the protection of minority rights—specifically regarding the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria—then it's not about constitutional changes but about finding a path forward," Mucunski said Mucunski demanded clear answers: "Will this be the final compromise Will we know that if these constitutional amendments are made there will be no veto six months or a year down the road due to a bilateral issue?"  Skopje also faces renewed tensions with Greece concerning its name with some ministers refusing to include the prefix 'North' for the country despite the conclusion of the Prespa agreement that ended a three decades-long dispute over the naming "I will never be able to say to you that I am happy with the Prespa Agreement that I believe the Prespa Agreement is good or that I believe the changing of the name of a nation is fair especially in the 21st century," the foreign minister said I understand that the principle of pacta sunt servanda and that agreements must be kept Mucunski stressed the importance of EU enlargement particularly to counter Russia's growing influence in the Balkans "I think enlargement is necessary for many reasons one of the key reasons is to reduce Russia's malign influence in our region," he said Beyond the bilateral problems with Greece and Bulgaria the European Commission also points out limited progress on strengthening judicial independence and serious concerns on corruption as obstacles to the start of accession negotiations North Macedonia (AP) — A massive fire tore through a nightclub in North Macedonia ’s eastern town of Kocani early Sunday local time during a concert by a local pop group at Club Pulse Officials said 39 of the dead had so far been identified adding that 18 of those injured were in critical condition Toshkovski said following an initial assessment that pyrotechnics likely caused the roof to catch fire Videos showed sparkling pyrotechnics on the stage hitting the ceiling followed by scenes of chaos inside the club relatives gathered in front of hospitals and city offices in Kocani Local resident Dragi Stojanov was informed that his 21-year-old son Tomce had died in the fire I don’t need my life anymore… 150 families have been devastated,” he said just corpses inside (the club).” Condolences poured in from leaders around Europe as well as from the office of Pope Francis who has been in hospital for the last month Health Minister Arben Taravari said he had received offers of assistance from neighboring countries European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also sent messages of support “I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery Ukraine mourns alongside our (North) Macedonian friends on this sad day,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X health officials said the injured have been taken to hospitals around the country many being treated for severe burns and smoke inhalation “All our capabilities have been put to use in a maximum effort to save as many lives as possible of the young people involved in this tragedy,” Taravari told reporters The fire is the worst tragedy in recent memory to befall the landlocked nation and the latest in a slew of deadly nightclub fires around the world READ MORE: Fire at Istanbul nightclub under renovation kills at least 29 people “It’s terrible … hard to believe how this happened,” she said “We must give these young people courage to continue.” State prosecutor Ljubco Kocevski said several people were being questioned by police but gave no further details and stressed that the cause of the blaze was still being investigated Interior ministry officials said authorities would investigate the venue’s licensing and safety provisions adding that the government had a “moral responsibility” to help prosecute anyone responsible but he didn’t provide details on the person’s involvement Pyrotechnics have often been the cause of deadly fires in nightclubs including the one at the Colectiv club in Bucharest © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins As North Macedonia looks beyond a period of multiple overlapping shocks it is timely for the country to take steps to achieve lasting fiscal consolidation without a sustained and sufficient medium-term fiscal adjustment fiscal and macroeconomic risks could escalate with further rises in borrowing costs affecting private sector and dragging on the overall economic recovery Full Report | Press Release | Infographic The report calls for restoring fiscal sustainability and rebuilding buffers through a set of policy measures North Macedonia has a potential to improve its tax efficiency and increase the collections The World Bank report argues a potential to raise tax revenues by 3.5 percentage points of GDP in the short term to support fiscal consolidation and sustainable growth and increasing environmental and property taxation the country should prioritize strengthening tax administration to improve compliance and revenue collection Although North Macedonia spends less on public administration compared to its EU peers the report highlights the need to enhance public administration effectiveness The government should implement reforms to improve efficiency and professionalize public administration Savings achieved over the medium term through staff rationalization should be reinvested in promoting professional and high-performing personnel based on strengthened performance management Numerous small local government units and significant regional disparities in North Macedonia affect the service delivery and lead to high administrative costs and inefficiencies it is essential to redefine spending responsibilities to avoid duplication and achieve economies of scale through decentralization or territorial reorganization To address the challenges of an aging society North Macedonia needs to improve the efficiency of public spending and expand access to high-quality health care services and coordination across healthcare providers as well as developing a sustainable long-term care system and reorganizing the hospital sector Increasing health taxes would contribute to lower incidence of non-communicable diseases and avert premature deaths The social assistance reform in North Macedonia has improved coverage and benefit adequacy but further efforts are needed to sustain and enhance poverty-targeted programs The report recommends ensuring that the reform reaches all eligible individuals expanding coverage to protect against new vulnerabilities implementing "make-work-pay" benefit reforms and intensifying activation measures for the long-term unemployed North Macedonia's pension deficit is high and will increase further without reform the report suggests several policy options including reversing the recently introduced price-wage (so-called Swiss) pension indexation pattern back to previous CPI indexation gradually increasing and equalizing retirement ages for men and women North Macedonia's education spending decreased over the past twelve years Key measures to enhance spending efficiency include optimizing the school network reassessing student-teacher ratios and class sizes reallocating resources to non-salary-related spending Priorities should include implementing a new funding formula for primary education and gradually optimizing the primary school network The government e-procurement portal enhanced the transparency and efficiency of the public procurement allowing the analysis of non-competitive public procurement practices and corruption risks The report indicates a moderate risk of corruption with some institutions using high-risk procurement practices such as increasing the number of bidders and reducing market concentration Implementing efficiency-enhancing measures within the existing legal framework could save the government 1.6 percent of GDP North Macedonia has to improve the efficiency of agricultural subsidies for the country's economic transition and resilience By aligning agricultural policies with the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and implementing targeted reforms the country can enhance the productivity and competitiveness of its agricultural sector This would also mean abolishing the tobacco growing subsidies and reallocating funding to food production and greening 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The Lingua project at Global Voices works to bring down barriers to understanding through translation. hold a sign reading ‘Your system murdered an entire generation of the future This commentary by Goran Rizaov was first published by Meta.mk An edited version is republished here under a content-sharing agreement between Global Voices and Metamorphosis Foundation In the early morning hours of March 16, fire engulfed a discotheque called Club Pulse in Kočani, North Macedonia, resulting in the deaths of 59 people and injuring over 150 While the country and the region are still attempting to come to grips with the enormity of the tragedy the initial investigation indicated that systemic corruption prevented implementation of necessary safety procedures The government declared a week of mourning; meanwhile various political forces started a campaign of preemptive silencing of critical voices targeting independent media and civil society activists I decided to keep silent. Not to “piffle.” Not to ruffle feathers. To close myself at home, to lock the door, to turn off the lights and not to talk to anyone. To prevent myself from saying something wrong, otherwise they might drag me by the ears from my home I decided not to disturb the public with our reporting To avoid “emotionally charged narratives.” To transmit only the official announcements by the authorities Because the government knows best what is ethical journalism There’s someone assigned to do the thinking for us I also decided not to read too much news to prevent harming my mental health Especially by some so-called media outlets which are not media outlets and by journalists who are not journalists I decided not to call for citizen gatherings against the system because the system already declared that it fights against the system I decided to bury in deep silence that “thing unspoken that I carry,” a thing that weighs on me and pains me and wait for “the silence itself will say it.” I await resignations in silence Peaceful gathering at the main square in Skopje on March 18 My use of irony is not a sign of disrespect to the families of the victims and injured in the tragedy in the improvised discotheque the goal is to point out the uninhibited attempts for censorship by the government against the independent and critical media and the attempts to take control of the narrative and divert public attention Since March 17, 2025, Macedonian authorities have shown their true authoritarian and censorious face, especially on the day of the funerals the regulatory bodies and the associations bombarded the media with announcements trying to prevent them from publishing anything that might be disliked by the political parties in power Under the guise of defending professional conduct hidden among well known standards which are followed by any professional media anyway the government educated the journalists what they should and what they shouldn’t photograph what kind of video recordings they should or shouldn’t make whether to have emotions or just copy their stark announcements and speeches Under the guise of countering disinformation In effect we got the result akin to those used by authoritarian regimes attempting to suppress freedom of speech This led to a situation of an extremely high level of self-censorship among the Macedonian media You would be hard pressed to find reporting on the lives of the victims about their influence on their communities in most Macedonian media You will not see the sorrow or hear the wailing Journalism has rules on how to interview families of victims of huge tragedies and the experienced journalists know these rules with sensitivity and knowledge of what kind of questions are appropriate Professional photojournalists also have their own special approach the fact remains that it is extremely important to document such tragedies to create a public record that would remain in media archives to leave a trace written in the collective memory A Meta.mk journalist suffered a brutal attack on social media spreading vicious defamatory accusations that he was the organizer of student gatherings His photograph was posted in tens of Facebook and Twitter posts alongside calls for his arrest or physical assault on him The assault campaign took place following the publication on social media of a recording of the Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska giving a speech to students on the campus of the Sts. Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM), when they interrupted her with boos They reacted to her continuing her already long speеch while some students were fainting and those around them were crying out for help and an ambulance Several thousand university students and high school pupils had gathered on March 17 to pay respects to the victims of the Kočani tragedy the event turned into a badly managed PR event which spun out of control Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje on March 17 Only one TV station and several online media outlets published the news that the students booed the minister. Meanwhile, the reactions on social media were a different story. The video clip was published on social media and soon became viral a network of political party trolls (called “bots” in the Balkans) activated and started a witch-hunt via anonymous profiles and groups when the minister finally appeared in public again not one media outlet asked her how come she appeared at the podium together with the rector to speak at a student gathering Nobody asked if she would submit her resignation because of the disrespect shown to the students at their moment of grief for their deceased colleagues for the many young people who lost their lives and the hundreds of injured who still struggle to survive In her speech, the minister said many things, and also recited the lyrics from the poem “In Silence” by Aco Šopov silence can sometimes be louder than words in pointing out the truth But when the government is calling upon the students to keep silent one can suspect that this is about singing a completely different kind of song The ministers’ speechwriter could have chosen some other poem by Šopov, something more appropriate for a student gathering about the biggest tragedy that has struck the youth of this country. “The last prayer for my body” from the poetry collection Not-Being from 1963 would have sounded more realistic on that day The Bridge features personal essays, commentary, and creative non-fiction that illuminate differences in perception between local and international coverage of news events, from the unique perspective of members of the Global Voices community. Views expressed do not necessarily represent the opinion of the community as a whole. All Posts ERROR: SECURITY TIMEOUT - Please copy your message to a backup location Global Voices stands out as one of the earliest and strongest examples of how media committed to building community and defending human rights can positively influence how people experience events happening beyond their own communities and national borders Please consider making a donation to help us continue this work Donate now Authors, please log in » Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Stay up to date about Global Voices and our mission. See our Privacy Policy for details. Newsletter powered by Mailchimp (Privacy Policy and Terms) Global Voices is supported by the efforts of our volunteer contributors, foundations, donors and mission-related services. For more information please read our Fundraising Ethics Policy Special thanks to our many sponsors and funders Demonstrators call for change and justice for 59 victims after tragedy blamed on multiple safety violations With flags still flying at half mast in North Macedonia, grief over a fire that tore through a nightclub killing dozens of people turned to anger as thousands took to the streets in protest the town where the fire destroyed the Pulse venue early on Sunday demonstrators demanded justice for the 59 mostly young Macedonians who lost their lives and called for an end to the corrupt practices blamed for the tragedy “I want everyone who helped this place carry on with its business to be jailed,” said 16-year-old Jovan referring to the nightclub as he joined other protestors in Kočani’s central square “We need change because this is a corrupt country.” Minutes later the rally descended into violence as rock-throwing youths ransacked a cafe believed to belong to the owner of the nightclub With more than 150 people injured and more than 50 transferred to specialist hospitals in Greece there is almost no one in the Balkan nation of close-knit family bonds who has not been affected by the disaster most victims were teenagers or young adults who had crammed into Pulse for an eagerly awaited night with DNK More than 20 of those wounded and three of those killed were under the age of 18 Mourners grieve during a protest following a fire at the Pulse nightclub that resulted in dozens of deaths in the town of Kočani as relatives queued outside hospitals to give DNA samples as part of the grim procedure of identifying the dead bulldozers and workers could be seen digging graves in Kočani a town of fewer than 30,000 residents 60 miles east of the capita “I will have no mercy,” the country’s prime minister “There is no person in Macedonia who is not broken and with a destroyed spirit after this.” Mickoski said preliminary investigations had revealed that the entertainment venue was operating illegally with an invalid licence obtained from the country’s economy ministry “in exchange for a bribe” had refused to issue a permit for the nightclub because it failed to meet basic safety standards The fire broke out at about 2.30am local time (0130 GMT) when sparks from pyrotechnic devices described variously as fireworks and flares Many of the victims died in the ensuing crowd crush as panic-stricken people attempted to escape Some demonstrators damaged an establishment that was said to belong to the owner of the nightclub the scale of the security violations were laid bare by the country’s state prosecutor only two fire extinguishers and a ceiling made of highly flammable material but only one single improvised metal door at the back of the building which was locked and without a handle on the inside,” Kocevski said “There was no access for fire engines from either side in accordance with the fire safety regulations The interior of the building was lined with plasterboard Local media outlets described the former warehouse as an “improvised nightclub” Among the 20 people detained in connection with the disaster is a former economy minister under whose watch the club’s licence is thought to have been issued; his top aide who allegedly signed the document officials of various state agencies and the venue’s manager “The detainees will be questioned since there are grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption linked to the fire,” the interior minister “The number of people inside the club was at least double its official capacity of 250.” The Pulse nightclub was said to have multiple safety violations Photograph: Georgi Licovski/EPAInitial reports suggested as many as 1,500 were at the venue when the blaze broke out On Monday as authorities stepped up inspections of nightclubs across the country Mickoski said he had been astounded to discover that licences for only 12 cabarets had been issued last year despite the number of such venues nationwide “The situation on this issue is shocking,” he said while visiting some of the wounded in the Mother Teresa hospital in Skopje has declared a seven-day period of national mourning in honour of the dead Thousands of students gathered on Monday at Skopje University in a silent protest that they have vowed to repeat daily over the course of the next week More rallies are expected on Tuesday after a civic group called for people to rally in city centres around North Macedonia to place further pressure on the government to stop the corruption that has now cost the 1.8-million strong nation so many young lives North Macedonia has made a clear warning of growing Russian influence in the Western Balkans if the EU does not commit quickly and clearly to enlargement All with the promise of a window of opportunity that we've been told existed if we do these changes for our path towards the European Union," Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski told Euronews Mucunski warned that the EU’s credibility is at stake and that enlargement is necessary to prevent weaponising Russian propaganda "There are malign actors out there who like to point the finger and say do you really believe that the EU is honest in its intention for enlargement Look at what they're doing to the Macedonians," he said It has been 20 years since North Macedonia applied for EU membership and achieved candidate status its accession has stalled due to disputes with Bulgaria over the status of the Bulgarian minority in country Skopjie wants institutional guarantees to make sure that no new demands will arise in the future there will not be a veto because of a bilateral issue?" he asked "I will never be able to say to you that I am happy with the Prespa Agreement I understand that the principle of pacta sunt servanda and that agreements must be kept the European Commission also pointed out limited progress on strengthening judicial independence and serious concerns on corruption "Our government was formed less than a year ago and it has taken very direct steps towards fighting corruption both high-level corruption but also corruption that exists in mid-level and low-level service establishing a system of rule of law," Mucunski said adding: "But this is not something that we can do overnight."