19. 12. 2022 | North Macedonia - Communication, PR
Klikni tukaj za več o projektnih aktivnostih v slovenskem jeziku 
The third workshop for the Working Group in charge of communication in the negotiation process on the content of Chapter 24 was held in Strumica, North Macedonia, from 13-15 December. During the workshops, the members of the group, coming from the Ministry of the Interior, the Financial Police, the Customs Administration, the Ministry of Justice, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the National Security Agency, continued to strengthen their communication capacities both in the area of content and in the area of communication skills and techniques.
After years of waiting, North Macedonia finally started its EU membership negotiations this summer. The first reviews of alignment with the EU acquis have already started, so adequate and good communication of the Working Group with all stakeholders and in all directions is of utmost importance. Practical exercises and experiences from other countries are particularly welcome.
The participants of the workshops in Strumica received training in communication on the fight against organised crime (financial investigations, money laundering), migration (legal and illegal migration, readmission), and border management through interactive exercises and based on current messages from the latest EC Progress Report on North Macedonia. The exercises were conducted in two directions: on the one hand, training in understanding or interpreting the messages and information provided by the EC in the Progress Report, and on the other hand, training in information transfer or reporting back to the EC team members on the achievements and work carried out by North Macedonia.
The workshops also gave participants the opportunity to learn about the experience of communication in the negotiation process with colleagues from Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. They were very grateful for guidance on their good practices and advice on how to avoid bad ones.
The practical exercises also offered the participants training to improve their oral and written communication skills and techniques, both with domestic and foreign audiences.
These were the last workshops of the project Communication in Negotiation Chapter 24, which is implemented with Slovenian international development assistance from January 1, 2021, and ends on 31 December, 2022. The members of the Working Group in charge of communication in the negotiation process on the content of Chapter 24 confirmed that their communication capacities have been greatly strengthened and that they have made significant progress in this area. They expressed their deep appreciation for the knowledge, guidance, and training they have received and considered it extremely useful for the work they are doing and the work that lies ahead of them on the road to the EU.
The project is part of the activities of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
5. 4. 2022 | North Macedonia - Communication, PR
Klikni tukaj za več o projektnih aktivnostih v slovenskem jeziku
Pending the date for the start of EU accession negotiations, North Macedonia is intensively preparing in accordance with the recommendations of the European Commission’s 2021 Progress Report. The Working Group set up for this purpose will be responsible for reporting on achievements in the field of reforms and progress under Chapter 24. The members of the group are experts from various Macedonian institutions dealing with the contents of Chapter 24. In preparing for effective and comprehensive communication with domestic and foreign stakeholders, as well as interinstitutional substantive cooperation, they also rely on the assistance of Slovenian experts.
Within the framework of the project of international development cooperation, the 2nd workshop was conducted for the members of the Working Group. This time the workshop took place from 28 to 31 March 2022 in North Macedonia. The aim of the workshop was to strengthen the presentation skills for communicating the content from Chapter 24.
The workshop was attended by representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the Agency for National Security Agency, the Customs Administration, the Financial Police office, the Ministry of Justice and the Secretariat for European Affairs. Through practical interactive exercises, they developed and deepened skills, methods and techniques for more effective oral and written communication of the contents of Chapter 24. In addition, they got acquainted with the method and practice of reporting on the achievements of the European Commission and exchanged experience in communicating with the domestic professional and general public.
A constructive discussion successfully presented the current practices of presentation skills, pointed out the shortcomings and drew attention to the room and the need for improvements, which will be taken into account in the continuation of the project, in future workshops. According to the participants’ evaluation at the end of the workshop, the way of working was carefully thought out and the goal – strengthening presentation skills – was achieved.
The project is part of the programme activities of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
18. 3. 2022 | North Macedonia - Communication, PR
Klikni tukaj za več o projektnih aktivnostih v slovenskem jeziku
In order to enter the negotiation process well prepared, North Macedonia is training its future working group for Chapter 24 also with Slovenian development assistance.
A significant impact on the efficiency in the negotiation process in Chapter 24, in addition to implementing rule of law reforms or the alignment with the EU acquis, will also have the ability of the working group to communicate within itself, with the public and, of course, with the European Commission.
In this context a second practical and interactive workshop for members of the future working group will be held from 28 to 31 March 2022 in North Macedonia. Workshop will be organized with the aim of improving communication capacity of the working group for the contents of Chapter 24 and will be attended by representatives of Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of justice, Secretariat for European Affairs, State Prosecutor’s Office, Customs Administration, Agency for National Security and Financial Police Office.
The project is part of the programme activities of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
7. 10. 2021 | North Macedonia - Communication, PR
Klikni tukaj za več o projektnih aktivnostih v slovenskem jeziku
In North Macedonia, despite less optimistic forecasts about the start of negotiations with the European Union, they are preparing for negotiations. Particularly engaged in preparations is the future Working Group on Chapter 24. This chapter covers issues of justice, freedom and security. Due to the changed methodology of the EU and the importance, scope and complexity of the content, Chapter 24 is the first to open, the future working group for Chapter 24 is particularly keen to prepare for the negotiations.
The Macedonian initiative to strengthen the capacity of the working group for Chapter 24 speaks of the interest in increasing the skills of the members of the working group. It also speaks of Macedonian comprehension of the impact of strengthen capacities on both the effectiveness of the negotiation process with the EU and the promotion of rule of law reforms, which benefit the country, regardless of negotiation process with the EU.
At the initiative of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia, the first in a series of practical, interactive workshops was held in North Macedonia from 28-30 September 2021, to be organized for a future Chapter 24 working group. The working group for Chapter 24, which participated in the workshop, is composed inter-departmentally. It includes representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecution, the Customs Administration, the Financial Police, the National Security Agency and the Secretariat for European Affairs.
This workshop was aimed at raising the awareness of the future working group for Chapter 24 on the importance of internal and external communication for the negotiation process. The exercises consisted of the contents of Chapter 24 and communication techniques, as well as feedback and experiences of the participants, including experiences from the EU negotiation process of Slovenia and Montenegro.
At the end of the workshop, it was agreed that the workshop activities contributed to the progress in communications within the Chapter 24 Negotiating Working Group and increased awareness of the importance of communication. At the same time, working group expressed the need to continue with practical exercises and to increase the frequency of Chapter 24 working group regular meetings. With the conclusion of the first workshop, preparations for follow-up workshops tailored-made to the participants and consisted of interactive exercises began aimed at raising the communication capacity of the Chapter 24 working group. The next workshop in North Macedonia is expected to take place in February 2022.
The project is part of the programme activities of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
22. 9. 2021 | North Macedonia - Communication, PR
Klikni tu za več o projektnih aktivnostih v slovenskem jeziku.
Part of Slovenia’s development aid to North Macedonia in the period 2021-2022 is intended to increase the capacity of communication in the negotiation process, for Chapter 24. This is a chapter that defines issues of justice, freedom and security and the field of internal affairs. It is fundamental for negotiations since negotiations begin and end with Chapters 23 and 24. Slovenia is thus upgrading its support to North Macedonia, which is provided in the field of financial investigations.
North Macedonia is waiting to set a date for the start of negotiations with the EU and is in the phase of intensive preparations for negotiations, but at the same time facing the challenge of how to enable the most efficient and inclusive negotiation process.
The effectiveness of the negotiation process is particularly affected by the capacities of the members of the Chapter 24 working group and their teamwork. The working group needs reliable interaction in the field of content (alignment with the acquis), supported by appropriate communication at all levels, from internal, external, horizontal and vertical. Preparations for the strengthening of the capacity of the working group have recently gained new, accelerated momentum with the desire for activities in North Macedonia to take place shortly, 28-30 September 2021 if possible, even before the situation regarding Covid-19 prevents this.
The project is part of the programme activities of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
