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Evaluation of Public Administration Reforms in Macedonia

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2007

Public Administration Reforms (PAR) is a very popular topic of discussion among the politicians and political analysts, the ordinary people as well as the academic (research) community in South Eastern Europe (SEE). Politicians talk about (advertise) PAR in their electoral campaigns, international (external) political actors donate funds, evaluate the progress with PAR and publish relevant reports, academics analyze the effects and advocate further efforts, while the media keep the issue in the spotlight. PAR has become the latest buzz-word in SEE politics, superseding earlier such concepts like market-reforms, human and minority rights, etc. If anything, public administration reforms are not an area suffering from lack of attention.

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Follow up – Macedonia and IPA Funds – guidelines for Civil Society Organizations & expectations for the future

Author(s): Sonja Zuber / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2011

In 2009, Analytica published the report Macedonia’s lagging behind in efficient usage of EU funds (IPA, Framework Programmes). In 2009 the country was still just getting to know all the complex procedures and labyrinths that the EU funding represents. The conclusion was that: “…the overall feeling is that compared to Croatia and Turkey, Macedonia is lagging behind in terms of IPA usage. Institutional capacity has been a persistent problem and there have not been sufficient trainings of the private sector in the past years either, which adds to the situation Macedonia is in.” It can be said that several important occurrences happened since the IPA funding was established in 2007. Even though Macedonia’s integration is in a limbo at the moment due to the Greek veto over the name dispute, the funds flow each year towards the capacity building of the county and the state, private and civil sectors. The process of the reforms does not stop and the better the country is prepared for the negotiation process the smoother it will run once it starts. Therefore the country should strive to full usage of the numerous EU funds that are open for the Macedonia’s institutions, private and civil sector.

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Four Years from the Candidacy Status: what has been done and what can be expected?

Author(s): Sonja Risteska / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2009

Much has been said and done in the past four years since Macedonia became a candidate country for the EU. As the date for publishing this year’s EC Report approaches, the questions of whether this year will be ‘the’ year for getting the much aspired date for starting the negotiations for full membership occupy public discussions. To find a quick answer to these questions seems a rather difficult task. Problems stem not just from domestic concerns, as complex and challenging they are, but also from the confusion over Europe’s future within Europe’s capitals and in Brussels. The path that Macedonia has to walk to get to the much wanted ‘destination’ – Brussels, is particularly difficult and full with bumps. From domestic issues and set benchmarks through disputes with its neighbors, Macedonia also has to find a way to ‘win’ Europe in spite of the global economic crisis and the unfinished ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. It seems as mission impossible when combined altogether, albeit it could be accomplished.

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Gas Pipelines and Regional Challenges: Assessment of the Macedonian Role in the SEE Natural Gas Market

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2008

Today, we live in an “era of energy” when most of the political debates are directed towards ensuring the availability and security of supply of energy. Across the world, the countries are caught in the grip with the raising energy demand and prices. On the European continent the energy crisis and debate over energy security and sustainability are concentrated on two issues: the high dependence on energy import and the increasing need for diversification of the energy sources. The current debate is all about the geopolitics of supply of the natural gas, as leading energy source and the pillar of the energy stability in the continent. A decade ago, the European Commission has adopted several important documents concerning measures that safeguard the security of natural gas supply and regulate the internal natural gas market. The most recent one, the Energy Policy of EU from 2007 has projected that even with the current targets on energy efficiency and renewables, oil and natural gas will still continue to meet half of the EU’s energy needs, with the import of natural gas exceeding 80% by 2030. Moreover, taking into consideration that the electricity generation in EU remains heavily dependent on natural gas, the 2007 Energy Policy reaffirms the security of supply of natural gas as a paramount for Europe’s security and economy. The other important part of the EU energy strategy concerning natural gas is the diversification of its energy sources. In order to diminish the role and the political influence of Russia as the biggest supplier of Europe with natural gas, EU has turned to find new sources and best transit routes to transport the natural gas to Europe, at the same time avoiding Russian territory.

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Grassroots Europeanisation in the Western Balkans is just starting: Visa facilitation

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2007

In April 2007, the Western Balkan countries initialed visa facilitation agreements that will allow more simplified procedures when applying for visas for entering the EU countries. Readmission agreements were also initialed between the countries of the region and the European Commission that will require from the countries to take back all of their citizens found to be residing in the EU illegally. Macedonia signed the agreement in Brussels on 13 April, while Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro signed theirs in Zagreb, on 14 April.

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Greening the Energy Sector-Does Macedonia Need Nuclear Energy?

Author(s): Sonja Risteska / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2010

The construction of viable energy options for the next decades is at the centre of significant period in the national discussions in Macedonia. This was triggered in part by the adoption of the Energy Strategy for the period of 2008-2020 with a vision up until 2030. One of the options mentioned is nuclear energy and the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in the country. This option deserves to be adequately and properly analyzed and researched in the following years, as do other alternatives, RES, gas, coal. However, unlike the other energy options, nuclear energy causes lot of stir in the public and expert circles. Whether it is potentially hazardous or is a great investment option is still a big issue that necessitates closer inspection. This brief therefore tries to look at both sides of the discussion while also recommending several future steps regarding the exploration of nuclear energy in Macedonia to the relevant stakeholders. The brief represents a starting point in what should follow a comprehensive research on the benefits and risks that the nuclear option has, not only for Macedonia but for the wider region in general. The research methodology is qualitative, using primary sources, such as interviews and legal documents, as well as secondary sources, such as analysis of documents of the contemporary energy discourse.

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How far is Macedonia in fulfilling the requirements under Chapter 27 - Environment of the acquis

Author(s): Sonja Zuber / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2012

Macedonia’s progress under Chapter 27 of the EU Acquis – Environment and climate change has been one of the slowest since the EC started reporting about the reform processes in the potential candidates and candidates’ member states. The issues in the environmental sector have not been high on the Macedonian government’s agenda due to many other problems taking time and money such as public administration and judicial reforms, police reform, human rights, non-majority communities’ rights etc., which usually take priority over the environment. Although as a candidate for membership Macedonia is obliged to work on reforms in every chapter including this one. Some progress has been made in certain areas such as transposing the acquis into national legislation, in particular on waste management or chemicals. However there is much left to be done, and the general observation is that, the most painful and expensive reforms are yet to be implemented. As it was stated in the last progress report from 2012: considerable efforts are required on awareness-raising, setting a more strategic approach for the country, aligning with and implanting EU climate acquis… Administrative capacity at both central and local levels needs to be strengthened. Investments need to be increased, especially in the waste and water sectors. Overall, preparations in the field of the environment are moderately advanced while in the field of climate change remain at an early stage.

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How Far is Macedonia in Fulfilling the Requirements Under the Energy Chapter of the Acquis?

Author(s): Sonja Risteska,Nataša Hroneska / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2010

Macedonia’s progress under Chapter 15 of the EU Acquis - Energy has been somewhat inconsistent over the past few years. The reforms of the energy sector are high on the Macedonian government’s agenda although their implementation started only in 2005/2006, in particular with the entering into force of the Energy Community Treaty for Southeast Europe (ECTSEE) in 2005. According to the ECTSEE’s rules member countries have to align their legislation in energy with the EU’s regulations. Therefore the reform process that started in Macedonia in 2005 has been partly successful, but it is ongoing process will most likely accelerate in the following years. The possibilities of having sustainable energy production from other alternative energy sources, such as hydro, wind, biomass or solar energy, which have a high potential for exploitation and energy production, are still there, ready to be explored. This report will investigate the positive developments and setbacks of the reforms in the energy sector in Macedonia since 2005. It will serve as a guide into what has been done so far, in which areas progress has been slower or reversed, which areas have great potential for development and what lies ahead in the development of the country’s energy market.

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How to Achieve Quality Higher Education in Macedonia. Screening of the Reforms in the Higher Education Sector in Republic of Macedonia

Author(s): Katarina Kreceva / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2008

The Higher Education (HE) system is created to enhance the production and dissemination of knowledge, and nowadays above all, to get a hold on the new consumer good - information. Hence, latest transformations made the role of education in the overall development of societies explicitly applicable, changing the goal of knowledge from search for the truth to search for ways of augmenting power, becoming increasingly adjusted to national requirements. Contesting globalization, no country is excluded from the politico-economic trends currently transforming higher educational institutions. On the European continent this trend is unequivocally defined by aiming to establish a common European Higher Education Area, development depicted by the Bologna process and most recently by the Lisbon objectives. Republic of Macedonia as a candidate EU country is adjunct to this international agenda, additionally having national interests in implementing such objectives in context of fitting the European socio-cultural milieu.

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Human Resources Management and Practices in Macedonian Civil Service

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2007

The following pages offer a brief evaluation of human resources management practices in the Macedonian civil service. Based on series of interviews with Human Resources experts, from academia and the administration, we outline the advantages and disadvantages of the current human resources system in the public administration. We then proceed with a summary of the assessment of human resources practices as implemented in some of the Macedonian public institutions, to sum up with several recommendations about how to improve the work and results of human resources units in the civil service in Macedonia.

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Impact of Migration on Child Growth in Albania and Macedonia

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2013

Albania and Macedonia are two Western Balkan countries that are characterised by high emigration and remittance dependency rates that appear to have affected the development of these countries across different socio-economic and cultural dimensions. Child growth in particular is one of these important outcomes. This paper uses a survey administered to mothers in Albania and Macedonia to investigate whether migration and remittances have had any impact on child growth in these countries. Child growth indicators, such as body mass index, weight, height, stunting and obesity dummies, together with child health inputs, such as the frequency of visiting the doctor, chronic diseases and reasons for not going to the doctor, are used as left-hand side variables. The paper finds that while migration has led to less stunting and increased height in Albania, in Macedonia, it seems to have led to increased weight and body mass index values and more obesity. These findings imply that exposure to international migration can have different consequences for these countries as Albania appears to have realised improvements in height and stature, while Macedonia has suffered from increased weight associated with increases in obesity.

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Implementing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Measures – are Southeast European Countries on track? Barriers, Positive Examples, Proposed Measures and Policies

Author(s): Sonja Risteska,Nataša Hroneska / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2010

Energy efficiency (EE) is a vital part of every country’s energy policy. All countries strive to establish an energy system that will enable balanced development of environmental protection, the competitiveness of the market and the security of energy supply. But the uncertain global energy market and the poor use of indigenous energy resources make it difficult to build a sustainable energy system in Macedonia. Remaining highly dependent on energy, without proper implementation of energy efficiency, the overall success of energy development is at stake. Macedonia as a country member of the Energy Community and a candidate for EU membership needs to keep up the pace with the other countries of South Eastern Europe when it comes to reforms of the energy sector. However, implementation of reforms is one of the main problems in Macedonia. According to a study conducted by Analytica in February, Macedonia is seriously lagging behind in the implementation of reforms in the energy sector, including the implementation of energy efficiency measures at the national and local levels.

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Introducing Career-Based System in Civil Service

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2008

The latest European Commission Progress Report on Macedonia, once again pointed out the importance of pursuing thorough public administration reforms in the country. The EC explicitly demands that before starting accession negotiations, Macedonia should intensively pursue public administration reforms with the focus on de-politicization of recruitment and advancement in the civil service. Evidently, this progress report raises some critical issues concerning Macedonia’s public administration (PA) which was not the case in previous reports. Inefficiency, corruption and politicization of PA have been identified as obstacles of overall quality of reforms. Because of this, many believed that reforms in PA shall continue with a fresh enthusiasm and tackle the deep-rooted malformations of the system and head for fundamental systematic change. Understandably, actions aimed for systematic change require decisiveness and sometimes even controversial overhaul of the civil service that suppose to determine its new image. New policy discussion for changes in the Law on Civil Servants aimed at replacing the “position based” with “career based” civil service system is contributing in achieving the fundamental systematic change in the civil service. Although the policy discussion has been on agenda for some time, we suggest that career based approach should be discussed further, and once a new momentum is established conducive for needed reform, the issue is pursued and finalised by the governing authorities.

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Investments in Energy – The Macedonian Case

Author(s): Nataša Hroneska / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2009

Since independence at the beginning of 1990s and especially in the last several years, the most important issue to the development of the energy sector in Macedonia has been the lack of a substantial and sustainable investment model. This in turn has been reflected in the modest number of new energy capacities in the country. Most of Macedonia’s existing energy infrastructure was developed during the second half of the last century. The consequence of this investment stagnation, especially after the breakout from Yugoslavia, is a weak energy sector, overwhelmingly dependent on imports and uncompetitive in the regional energy market. Foreign investors come and go from the country. Facing different legal and administrative barriers few decide to invest, leaving many strategically important energy projects for Macedonia to wait for ‘better days’. In addition, both wholesale and individual consumers have experienced hardships in their businesses and everyday life, faced with poor energy supply, low quality transmission and distribution systems, combined with energy shortages and inefficient energy management. New capacities have been developed in the last two decades, but they are not enough to satisfy the increase in energy demand, or strengthen the energy position of Macedonia within Southeast European region.

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Is Macedonia Ready to Start Negotiations for EU Membership Regarding Chapter 27?

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2009

Macedonia as Western Balkan country is a challenging “bite” for the European Union (EU). This policy brief examines the integration efforts of Macedonia in the sphere of environment. Our aim is to bring different perspective in the public perceptions of the Chapter 27 as part of the EU integration processes. In times of global recession, environmental policy is often neglected as it is seen as a big spender of budget resources. Therefore, this paper aims to bring environment to the fore and focus public attention on Macedonia’s performance in the environmental sector, because of its noted substantial changes and progress. By doing this, we propose to propel a brighter view of both the state of the Macedonian environment and the progress with EU approximation. Through a comparative analysis, the brief also lays out the challenges and obstacles of the reform process in the environmental protection of the pre‐accession period of Slovakia and Croatia. As a new EU member state Slovakia was chosen in order to better identify the ways the country has dealt with the environmental barriers on the way to integration with the EU. Croatia is a current candidate state and as such shares many of the challenges Macedonia faces in the are of environment acquis approximation. Having advanced further on the road to EU membership, Croatia is a useful model for Macedonia.

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Legal Insight into Macedonia’s newly approved Law on Public Servants

Author(s): Agim Selami / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2010

Looking back and analyzing the flow of the reform process on the public administration in Macedonia there’s a perception that this is a never‐ending and quite complex process. All governments to date have never expressed any fatigue or dilemmas in relation to the reform. However, this willingness has not been all the time complemented with the right actions and strategies that would “incarnate” the idea of an ideal public administration system. The battle for power among political parties has many times undermined the general interest. Hence, the critical stand of the international factor toward the development of the reform, being closely monitored by them. The current government’s willingness to give priority to the EU agenda is mostly expressed through drafting laws compatible to the EU Aquis Communitaire. One of them is also the already approved Law on Public Servants, which was proposed by the Ministry of Justice. The initiation for drafting this law itself had opposite reactions, praised from ones and faced with strong opposition for the envisaged legal provisions from others.

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Lessons Learned on Effective Public Administration in Macedonia

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2008

For many countries in the world improving Public Administration System (PAS) has been on top of their agenda. Improving effectiveness of the public service has been seen as clear indicator for increasing the capacity for economic development as well as increasing the capacity for providing better service to all citizens. The way that the effectiveness is measured is through the commitment and quality of public services offered to the citizens. The citizens of Macedonia view the PAS as failure to meet and create efficient living standards for its citizens; these living standards are the basic economic and social welfare needs. The main reason is that Macedonia is lacking capacity to provide the PA system with functional policies. Moreover, a problem tends to occur in the implementation of these policies. Correspondingly, the 2008 Euro Barometer report on Macedonia contains a survey about the trust of Macedonian citizens towards national and EU institutions. Compared to national institutions, the citizens’ trust towards EU institutions is evidently higher.

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Local gasification policies in Macedonia: exploring pioneer projects

Author(s): Ana Stojilovska / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2013

Since its independence, one of the most anticipated policies of the Republic of Macedonia in the energy sector has been to gasify its territory, which however proved to progress very slowly over the years. On the other hand, the increasing energy prices as district heat, electricity etc. prompted the need for drafting local solutions to address the issues of inefficient and expensive heat practices. At the same time, the municipalities according to the Law on energy are obliged to adopt own local energy efficiency programs and according to the Law on construction they are responsible for approving power utilities with capacity up to 1MW and secondary gas networks, which opens the possibility for local heat or gasification projects. Few municipalities aware of the benefits gasification projects might bring, initiated them at local level, presenting pioneer examples of bottom-up policies that have shown positive results in a relatively short period like saving energy and finances and developing the gas distribution network, thus they have potential to increase the utilization of natural gas at national level.

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Macedonia and the Western Balkans Awaiting the 2008 EU Progress Reports: Back to Basics

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2008

Facing 5 November 2008, when the Commission is to publish the progress reports, Macedonia and the wider Balkan region are considering the options for speeding up the process of accession to the EU. However, the difficulties faced with regards to political reforms, such as lack of political dialogue between the government and opposition decreases the likeliness that Macedonia will start accession talks in the years to come unless there is consolidated reform process that would be tested in the upcoming elections of March 2009.

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Macedonia Needs a Power Plant: A Reality or Near Future

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2008

The aim of the present study is to show that, strategically speaking, Macedonia is in need of building a nuclear power plant and that it stands as important location for building the nuclear centre which will meet the needs of Western Balkans and even wider region of Southeast Europe. The following section examines the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear as compared to other sources of energy. The final section concludes with a proposal for building a nuclear power plant in Macedonia as the only long-term solution to the energy crisis in the region.

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Publisher: Analytica