Flagship project
Empowering All 81 Municipalities in North Macedonia to Manage EU Funds and Serve Citizens Better (TA EU4M)
Over the past four years, nearly 1,500 municipal and planning region staff have been trained in key areas such as EU project management, procurement, public financial management, and IT tools. Project activities have also significantly strengthened inter-municipal cooperation, exemplified by the establishment of DMO Povardarie, the first regional tourism marketing initiative in North Macedonia involving 11 municipalities.
The challenge
Many municipalities did not have enough experienced staff to manage EU-funded projects, which caused delays and implementation difficulties. Limited knowledge of procurement, budgeting, and project management required continuous support from the project team. Long-term sustainability remains a challenge due to limited funding, weak cooperation between municipalities, and a lack of national ownership to continue training and support activities. Some cross-border initiatives were also delayed because of unresolved legal issues.
Our goal
Support municipalities to improve their ability to plan and manage development projects, make better use of EU funding, and provide better services to citizens. Activities focused on strengthening staff skills, encouraging cooperation between municipalities, supporting better financial management, and promoting partnerships with EU municipalities. Introduce practical solutions, improve local governance, and build long-term capacity so municipalities can continue improving after project completion.
Our approach
Combine training, mentoring, expert advice, and hands-on support to strengthen municipalities' capacity to plan and implement development projects. Use a practical, bottom-up approach, helping municipalities identify local priorities and develop solutions tailored to their needs. Encourage cooperation between municipalities, planning regions, civil society, and EU partners through peer learning, study visits, and joint initiatives. Provide technical support for project implementation, financial management, procurement, and local governance, while developing practical tools, handbooks, and a network of certified trainers to help ensure knowledge and good practices continue beyond the project's lifetime.
Impact in numbers
One national helpdesk system was established, providing ad-hoc expert and peer-to-peer support, and eight EU-funded grant projects were implemented by municipalities. More than six EU countries were engaged through study visits and partnerships, including Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Belgium and Latvia.
Key highlights
- Strengthened the capacity of municipalities across North Macedonia through training, mentoring and practical technical support
- Municipal staff improved their skills in project planning, financial management, procurement and accessing EU funds
- Supported the preparation and implementation of local development projects
- Established a network of trained municipal focal points and certified trainers
- Developed practical guidance materials, tools and a helpdesk to provide ongoing support
- Strengthened cooperation between municipalities, planning regions, civil society organisations and EU partners through study visits, peer learning and joint initiatives
- Supported eight grant projects that delivered local investments and innovative solutions
- Promoted sustainable tourism through the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) Povardarie and introduced the EUMEL Award to recognise excellence in municipal governance
Voices from the field
Through #EU4M trainings, municipalities are supported in building skills in project management, local taxes and digital tools, while also creating space for exchange and networking. These activities help municipalities learn from each other, contributing to more effective and better connected local administration.
Thanks to the support of the European Union, we are building stronger municipalities, better services, and a more European local administration. The partnership between the Government, the municipalities, and the EU Delegation is essential for the successful integration of the country into the European Union. EU integration is not just a political objective, but a process of deep reforms that improve the lives of citizens.
Tourism is important for the development of rural areas, and destination management is a key part of the national tourism strategy. Povardarie is a region with high potential and the inter-municipal cooperation of 11 municipalities will definitely boost the development.
Visit Povardarie
Success story
From local winery to regional destination
When TA EU4M helped launch DMO Povardarie, the first inter-municipal tourism marketing initiative in North Macedonia, bringing together 11 municipalities along the Vardar river, it also opened new doors for local entrepreneurs such as Dane Jovanov. Dane runs a small family winery in the region, where wine has been made for generations but rarely reached visitors beyond the local market.
As tourists increasingly look for an experience rather than just a bottle to take home, Dane reshaped his winery into a destination: tastings paired with stories of the terroir, hospitality that lets guests feel the culture of Povardarie, not just taste it. Through the EU4M-supported cooperation agreement between the 11 municipalities, study visits to wine regions abroad, and the new visitpovardarie.mk platform launched in April 2026, his winery, along with others, now appears in a joint regional event calendar reaching visitors he could never have reached alone.
For him and other small producers across the region, DMO Povardarie is not an abstract administrative structure. It is the reason a curious traveller now finds his winery at all.
I believe in the cooperation of all public and private actors in tourism.
Dane Jovanov · Povardarie, North Macedonia
Impressions
