Establishment of a Platform for Dialogue and Transparency of State Aid Policy in the Western Balkan-6

The main goal of this project is to increase access to state aid data, deepen the regional integration and compliance of state aid policies with EU standards through enhanced transparency and stakeholder collaboration.

To address these challenges, the project will focus on the following specific objectives:

  • Developing a comprehensive web platform to facilitate open dialogue and access to state aid data and evidence information.
  • Building consensus among stakeholders on strategic directions for state aid policy and practice (deepening the engagement with stakeholders that was successfully initiated in the previous phase)
  • Advocating for improved state aid governance through a regularly updated database, targeted briefings, and public engagement.

Donor: Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans

Economic Reformometer: Monitoring Four Pillars from the EU Reform Agenda

The project aims to provide independent and analytical monitoring of the Government’s progress in implementing economic reforms, in line with the EU Reform Agenda Program. The focus is on:

  1. Public financial management – monitoring the implementation of the Organic Budget Law,

  2. Formalization of the informal economy,

  3. State aid and its transparency,

  4. Development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – through rationalization of parafiscal charges.

Through the development and tracking of indicators, combined with quantitative and qualitative analysis and visual presentation of findings, the project will deliver regular monitoring reports and policy recommendations. Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the management of public economic policies, aligned with the country’s EU integration priorities.

Period: July 2025 – June 2027

Enhancing Business Productivity: A Comprehensive Analysis of Productivity and Its Drivers in Firms in North Macedonia

This project will provide empirical evidence on the determinants of business productivity in North Macedonia, offering insights that can guide policy decisions and business strategies. By integrating rigorous quantitative analysis with real-world business insights, the study aims to bridge the gap between evidence and policy implementation, fostering a more competitive and efficient business environment in the country.

Client: Organization of Employers of Macedonia

Unlocking female economic potential – beyond gender boundaries

The objective of this action is to empower and enable women to reach their full potential in the labor market, with a particular focus on productivity.

Specific objectives include:

  1. To identify drivers of low female participation in the labor market and female productivity, by producing evidence and generating knowledge;
  2. To emphasize the importance of decent jobs, a stimulative environment, working conditions, and systemic support as drivers of productivity and women’s potential, by piloting measures at “Comfy Angel” and in collaboration with the business sector;
  3. To stimulate policy dialogue among relevant stakeholders (policymakers, business sector, Federation of Trade Unions);
  4. To advocate for policies that enable decent jobs and a stimulative environment that will boost female productivity.

Donor: British Embassy in Skopje

Competitiveness Policy Priority Identification in the Western Balkans

The objective of the project is to identify and address policy priorities in each of the six Western Balkan economies, unlocking growth opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region. The project is supporting the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans (EIP) for the period 2021 – 2027, aiming to develop and implement a comprehensive program to enhance the competitiveness of the private sector in the region’s countries.

Client: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

State aid and foreign direct investment in the Western Balkan countries: Fostering transparency and generating space for regional coordination of investment policies

The overall objective of the project is to improve transparency of and to generate evidence on the FDI-related state aid in the context of the regional integration of Western Balkan countries.

The overall objective is broken down to the following specific objectives:

  1. To identify (map) state aid programs and key measures and relate it to measurable indicators of effectiveness,
  2. To produce evidence on the state aid granted to foreign companies in view of its effectiveness and of support to the regional integration,
  3. To increase public awareness at regional, national and local level by influencing public discourse on the importance of state aid transparency and alignment with the EU requirements, and as a promotor of regional integration

Donor: Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans

Diagnostics of the informal economy in North Macedonia

The objective of the action is to diagnose the informal economy, re-estimate its size and the size/importance of its various facets, by relying on tax administration data. By so doing, the action will create a roadmap of actions and direction of resources that will produce the maximal result.

Donor: International Labor Organization

Duration: September – December 2023

Open Balkan: Free regional movement of labor in conditions of shortage of qualified workers?

The goal of the project is to assess how the free movement of (skilled) labor in the Open Balkan Initiative will affect the labor market in North Macedonia, and thus to encourage a reasoned debate and adjustment of policies to maximize benefits and minimize risks.

Specific objectives include:

  • Generating knowledge about how the free movement of (skilled) labor included in the Open Balkan Initiative will affect the labor market in the country;
  • Encouraging evidence-based public debate about the benefits and challenges of the issue;
  • Contribution to economic policies related to the labor market and bilateral social security agreements, in the context of the implementation of the requirements of this Initiative.

Donor: Foundation Open Society Macedonia

Duration: September 2022 – September 2023