Republic of North Macedonia takes over Presidency of EUSAIR

The Presidency of North Macedonia with the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) and the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative (AII) coincides with the 5^th anniversary of country’s accession to the Strategy in 2020 and the 7^th anniversary of the membership in the Initiative.

It comes 25 years following the Ancona Declaration establishing the AII as “initiative for dialogue and cooperation in the Adriatic and Ionian region”, and 11 years after the Council Conclusions initiating EUSAIR with a common goal to “promote economic and social prosperity and growth in the region by improving its attractiveness, competitiveness and connectivity…and contribute to the further integration of the Western Balkans”.

In assuming the Presidency, North Macedonia will build on the positive work and best practices established by the previous presidencies. At the same time, it will aim to leave its own mark for the presidencies that will follow and act as a driving force for the cooperation in the Adriatic and Ionian Region, contributing thus for a better life for its citizens. Strengthened cooperation and constructive dialog are of outmost importance for tackling the social, political and economic challenges imposed in the resent years, which have undoubtedly affected the Adriatic and Ionian Region as well.

As the beginning of the Presidency is directly connected with the adoption of the new European Commission[1] and the related revised EUSAIR action plan, the Presidency will use this momentum to enable the most favorable environment for its implementation, and to thus use it as a important tool for further transformation of the Adriatic and Ionian Region as an area of stability, security and prosperity and the convergence of its participating EU candidate countries towards the European Union.

In achieving the aforementioned, the EUSAIR Presidency of North Macedonia will be structured around the following priorities:

1. Enlargement and gradual integration
2. Advancing implementation of the revised Action Plan and importance of macro-regional cooperation
3. Enhancing cooperation in border regions and stronger regional integration
4. Youth engagement, skills agenda and demographic challenges to counter depopulation and enhance resilience
5. Sustainable Tourism and smart growth

The Priorities of the Chairmanship-in-office under the auspices of the AII are available in the Presidency programme document.

Read the detailed description of the presidency programme in the following document MK priorities EUSAIR and AII 

For more information on the indicative Timetable of the Presidency of North Macedonia to EUSAIR, please follow the link Calendar MK Presidency_25.7.2025

[1] https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vmn6ec3ckzul