The Ministry of Finance announced that the Government has approved a bill to amend and supplement the Public Procurement Law. The changes aim to modernize the system, strengthen transparency, increase competition and ensure more effective use of public funds.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the amendments were drafted based on the experience gained during the implementation of the Public Procurement Law to date, the need to adapt it to current economic circumstances, as well as the reform priorities set out in the Reform Agenda and the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

One of the key measures concerns fulfilling the obligations set out in the Reform Agenda. In this context, further improvements are envisaged for the electronic low-value procurement market in order to encourage its use and increase competition among economic operators. This measure is included among the reform activities to be carried out during 2026.

The draft amendments also provide that the selection of the most advantageous bid must use the criterion of the “best price-quality ratio.” This is one of the main activities of the Reform Agenda for 2027 and aims to ensure that institutions do not automatically focus solely on the bid with the lowest price, but also take into account its value, quality and long-term viability.

An important part of the reform is also devoted to the digitalization of public procurement. At the same time, the Public Procurement Bureau’s powers are being expanded to include the use of modern digital tools and solutions. These instruments will be used to monitor procedures more efficiently, identify risks and prevent potential abuses and corrupt practices, the Ministry of Finance said.

The amendments also establish the legal basis for providing online services and for the automatic exchange of data with other relevant institutions and entities.

The proposal also includes measures to increase the professionalism of personnel involved in public procurement. The current periodic recertification model, which is carried out through retaking the examination, will be replaced by a system of continuous professional development. Through this mechanism, employees will be able to continuously update their knowledge and skills in line with modern practices and European standards.

The Ministry of Finance assesses that the proposed legal solutions are part of efforts to build a more efficient, transparent and modern public procurement system aligned with European standards and the state’s reform priorities. According to the Ministry of Finance, the ultimate goal is to ensure greater value for public funds and provide higher-quality services to citizens.

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With an investment of 92.7 million denars excluding VAT, the reconstruction of the PHI University Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – Skopje will begin. According to the Ministry of Finance, the project aims to improve conditions for patients and medical staff, as well as significantly increase the energy efficiency of the buildings.

To implement this project, a grant agreement has been signed between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health. The subproject “Reconstruction of the PHI University Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – Skopje, with energy-efficiency measures” will be implemented by the Project Unit within the Ministry of Finance, with funding secured through grants from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development – World Bank and an investment grant from the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).

This project is part of Component 1b, which provides for the reconstruction of central government buildings and public healthcare institutions through measures that increase energy efficiency.

The works will cover eight interconnected buildings, with a total heated area of 7,247 square meters. Once the investment is completed, the clinic is expected to provide more functional working conditions for medical staff and more suitable facilities for patients’ stay, treatment and care.

The interventions will include the installation of thermal insulation on façades and roof structures, the replacement of old woodwork with new energy-efficient elements, the repair of parts of the buildings and sanitary facilities, as well as the installation of modern LED lighting.

At the same time, the heating and cooling systems will also be upgraded. They will be equipped with highly efficient heat pumps and fan convectors, replacing the existing heating system that uses mazut. This is expected to reduce energy consumption, the institution’s operating costs and its negative impact on the environment.

The Ministry of Finance estimates that the project will significantly improve the Clinic’s energy characteristics and create a healthy environ

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Finance Minister Gordana Dimitarieska-Koçoska announced that steps have been initiated to improve the system for auditing and overseeing public funds.

The focus of the enhanced cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and the State Audit Office is the prevention and detection of irregularities, fraud and corruption.

For the first time in the country, a national examination will be organized to obtain a certificate as an authorized internal auditor in the public sector.

According to Dimitarieska-Koçoska, raising the professional standards of auditing will help ensure that public funds are managed more efficiently, lawfully and responsibly.

She underscored that these actions are part of reforms aimed at strengthening financial control and aligning it with European standards, within the framework of Chapter 32 – Financial Control.

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The Ministry of Finance will organize the country’s first national examination, through which candidates will be able to obtain certification as authorized internal auditors in the public sector.

According to the Ministry of Finance, this initiative represents an important development in strengthening internal financial control in public institutions. It is part of ongoing efforts to ensure that institutions operate more responsibly, transparently and in compliance with the law.

The ministry emphasizes that establishing national certification through the organization of the examination will create opportunities for further professional development and strengthen the role of internal auditors in the public sector.

The examination and certification of professionals are expected to directly strengthen the capacities of internal audit units in public entities. At the same time, this measure is seen as evidence of the Ministry of Finance’s commitment to improving anti-corruption mechanisms and ensuring the lawful and responsible operation of public institutions.

The ministry considers the national examination important for the European integration process as well. Its organization marks progress toward the full implementation of the European Union’s recommendations in this area, within the framework of Chapter 32 – Financial Control, and supports the next steps on the reform agenda.

Materials for candidates’ preparation, along with the examination questions, have already been published on the Ministry of Finance’s website. According to the institution, they were prepared with technical and expert support from the European Union for the Ministry of Finance – Central Harmonization Unit.

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The Ministry of Finance has approved a new regulation setting out the procedure for verifying the reputation, integrity and origin of funds used to organize gambling activities. This bylaw stems from the adoption of the new Gambling Law and specifies in detail the documents that legal entities and individuals must submit when applying for a license to operate a casino, betting shop, slot machine club or closed-type tombola.

To prove that they meet the reputation criteria, applicants must submit the relevant documentation. Among other things, this includes information on sanctions imposed that prohibit them from practicing a profession, proof that no measure barring them from organizing gambling activities has been imposed, as well as information on other similar circumstances relevant to their involvement in this activity.

The regulation also introduces strict oversight of the source of funds in the share capital. By reviewing bank statements, contracts and financial statements, the Ministry of Finance will verify whether the movement of funds can be traced continuously from their origin to their payment into the company. The regulation also governs procedures for changes to the ownership structure and share capital, as well as the appointment of members of management and supervisory bodies.

The adoption of this regulation is linked to the provisions introduced by the new Gambling Law. One of them is an assessment of the reputation of the partners and associates of companies that have obtained gambling licenses. The assessment also covers members of the management and supervisory bodies of commercial companies that organize gambling activities and in which the state is the sole shareholder. This assessment is considered a highly important factor in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, and it is therefore proposed that the reputation of the individuals concerned be reviewed as a priority.

The new Gambling Law was adopted in June this year, with the aim of establishing a modern, clearer and more efficient legal framework for regulating this sector.

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The Ministry of Finance has announced that a new transfer of 176.5 million denars, or €2.9 million, has been made from the central budget to the Development Bank to support investment projects by domestic companies.

Following this transfer, the total support provided by the Government to domestic companies has reached 14.7 billion denars, or €239 million. According to the Ministry, these funds provide a significant boost to private investment and the economy, while a total of €250 million has been allocated in the budget for this purpose.

The funds were secured by the Government through the Hungarian Export-Import Bank, with the aim of stimulating the investment cycle in the private sector. They will be transferred from the budget to the Development Bank and then, through the network of domestic commercial banks, made available to the final beneficiaries, namely domestic companies.

The Ministry of Finance emphasizes that companies receive the funds on favorable terms: an interest rate of 1.95%, a repayment period of up to 15 years, and a grace period of up to 3 years.

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According to the Ministry, the document was prepared in line with commitments undertaken through the National Programme for the Adoption of EU Law (NPAA), under Chapter 32 – Financial Control. This chapter covers public internal financial control, external audit, safeguarding the EU’s financial interests and protecting the euro against counterfeiting.

The strategy aims to strengthen discipline and transparency in the use of public funds, both national funds and EU resources, as well as to ensure the protection of the European Union’s financial interests in North Macedonia.

The strategy was drafted by the Anti-Fraud Coordination Unit for EU Funds (AFCOS Unit) within the Ministry of Finance, following a participatory approach. All relevant stakeholders were involved in the process through cross-sectoral coordination with the institutions of the country’s Institutional Network for the Protection of the EU’s Financial Interests (AFCOS Network), the bodies and structures of the European Union funds management and control system, as well as the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

The 2026–2030 document provides for the implementation of reforms in several priority areas: preventing irregularities and fraud, identifying irregularities and suspected fraud cases, investigating and prosecuting fraud, recovering financial resources and imposing sanctions.

“Through the implementation of the strategy, the prevention of irregularities and fraud is expected to be strengthened, effective and proportionate anti-fraud measures introduced, tools and techniques for detecting irregularities and fraud improved, timely investigation and appropriate handling of reported suspected fraud cases ensured, and capacity strengthened to ensure proportionate and deterrent penalties, appropriate financial corrections and deterrent measures in cases of irregularities and fraud,” the Ministry of Finance said.

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Under the new legal definition, the term “giveaway” is defined for the first time as a game of chance, where participation is conditioned by actions such as liking, tagging, sharing or posting content. These are organized with the aim of promoting products or services through the internet, mobile devices or other platforms.

To obtain a permit, the organizer must submit an application to the Ministry of Finance no later than 30 days before the start of the game. The application must also include the relevant documentation, including the game rules, proof of the origin of the prizes, registration documents and certificates confirming payment of public obligations, while legal entities must also provide a certificate showing they are not banned from organizing games of chance.

The law stipulates that the 18 percent tax on the prize fund must be paid within three days of receiving the permit. If this does not happen, the permit is revoked.

The rules of the prize game must also be published before it begins, while the winners must be announced no later than three days after the drawing. The prizes must be delivered within the deadline set out in the rules, but this deadline may not exceed 60 days from the announcement of the results.

The legal provisions also specify what the game rules must obligatorily contain, including details about the organizer, the conditions for participation, the method of selecting winners, the value of the prizes, the complaints procedure, as well as the ban on participation for the organizer’s employees and their close family members.

A “giveaway” game may not last longer than one year.

According to the Ministry of Finance, these new rules bring greater transparency, legal certainty and protection for participants, while at the same time imposing clear obligations on the organizers of these promotional games.

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According to the Ministry of Finance, following this latest transfer from the central budget to the Development Bank, the total amount of funds placed in the domestic economy for the implementation of company investments has reached 14.5 billion denars, or 235.8 million euros.

“The total budget for supporting domestic companies provided for in the budget is 250 million euros, while the value of the investment cycle is estimated at around 300 million euros. The funds secured by the Government and made available to domestic companies under favorable conditions are intended for the implementation of private investments, thereby ensuring their development and stimulating economic growth.”

The ministry stresses that these funds will be made available to final beneficiaries through commercial banks, with an annual interest rate of 1.95%, a repayment period of up to 15 years, and a grace period of up to 3 years.

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In Parliament, during the committee debate on the 2026 Budget rebalance, Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska said in her presentation that public finances remain stable, revenues are moving in line with expectations, and spending is focused on implementing legal obligations and priority development policies.

According to her, the vast majority of revenue is secured through regular economic activity. Tax revenues reached 96.7 billion denars, of which 43.3 billion denars came from VAT, accounting for around 44.7% of total tax revenues. A total of 17.5 billion denars was collected from personal income tax, 13.8 billion denars from profit tax, and 13.9 billion denars from excise duties.

The data show that revenues from personal income tax increased by 11.7%, those from profit tax by 14.5%, VAT by 16.4%, while import customs duties rose by 8.3%.

The minister stressed that these developments indicate the continuity of economic activity, the functioning of companies, wage growth, and more efficient revenue collection, alongside a reduction in the grey economy.

In the same period, social contributions, as an essential source of financing for the pension and healthcare systems, reached 58.8 billion denars, or 7.5% more than last year.

As for expenditures, budget execution reached 205.9 billion denars, with a focus on the regular fulfillment of legal obligations toward citizens and the economy.

A total of 1.2 billion denars was paid out for refunds from the solidarity tax. Some 58.1 billion denars was allocated for pensions, 25.5 billion denars for healthcare, and 7.6 billion denars for social protection. Meanwhile, municipalities received 15.1 billion denars through block grants, as well as an additional 2.4 billion denars from VAT.

In the first half of the year, the state settled all obligations to domestic and foreign creditors. A total of 12 billion denars was paid in interest, while 60.7 billion denars went toward principal repayments, which, according to the minister, is important for maintaining the confidence of investors and international financial institutions.

She underlined that financial discipline and the regular settlement of obligations continue to be a priority.

Capital expenditures for this period reached 19.4 billion denars, marking annual growth of 53.5%. These funds were directed toward infrastructure, schools, kindergartens, healthcare facilities, energy, and local development. A total of 6.3 billion denars was spent on Corridors 8 and 10-d, while 2.1 billion denars was allocated to municipal infrastructure projects.

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