2 October 2026
Skopje, 15 September 2026 – The fifth Steering Committee meeting of the Twinning Project MK 24 IPA AG 01 24 “Strengthening the National Phytosanitary System”, funded by the European Union under the IPA III programme, was held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of North Macedonia (MAFWE).
The meeting represented an important opportunity for discussion among project partners to assess the results achieved and define priorities for the coming months. In particular, the Steering Committee reviewed the Quarterly Report for the July-September 2026 period and approved the Rolling Work Plan for October 2026-March 2027.
The project supports North Macedonia in aligning its national phytosanitary system with European Union standards and legislation by strengthening the institutional, administrative and technical capacities of the competent authorities.
During the meeting, significant progress was reported in several strategic areas:
One of the most relevant achievements is the consolidation of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system in the country’s pilot regions. To date, 28 technical bulletins have been published for agricultural operators, and initial evidence indicates a gradual reduction in the use of plant protection products, confirming the benefits of the approach promoted by the project.
The Steering Committee also highlighted that the project is increasingly entering a new phase in which attention is shifting from legislative development to practical implementation in the field. In this context, stakeholder engagement, dissemination of results and the definition of reliable indicators to measure policy impacts, particularly in the field of IPM, play a central role.
Alongside planning and institutional coordination activities, missions by Italian and Greek experts continue, focusing on knowledge transfer and strengthening the technical capacities of beneficiary institutions.
Particular attention is being given to the mission scheduled in Skopje from 19 to 22 October, dedicated to Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the pine wood nematode, one of the most dangerous harmful organisms affecting conifer forests. The pest has already caused severe damage in America and Japan and is currently present in several European countries, including Spain and Portugal. Its spread is facilitated by vector beetles of the genus Monochamus, which are also widespread in the Balkan region.
In the days following the Steering Committee meeting, representatives of the State Phytosanitary Laboratory of MAFWE participated in online preparatory meetings with project experts. The upcoming mission will focus on accredited morphological identification of the nematode through the Baermann method, sample extraction and analysis techniques, and the study of the main European vector, Monochamus galloprovincialis. These activities will further strengthen the diagnostic capacities of the Macedonian laboratory and the country’s preparedness for preventing and managing phytosanitary emergencies.
Cooperation between Member State experts and North Macedonian institutions continues to produce tangible results, combining legislative support, technical capacity development and practical implementation of reforms.
From legislation to implementation, from cooperation to impact: the Twinning Project continues to build the foundations for a modern, effective phytosanitary system fully aligned with European Union standards.
The Twinning Project MK 24 IPA AG 01 24 “Strengthening the National Phytosanitary System” is funded by the European Union under the IPA III Twinning Programme and is coordinated by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF) in consortium with the respective ministries of Greece and Croatia.
The beneficiary institution is the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of North Macedonia, with which the European partnership cooperates to strengthen the national phytosanitary system and progressively align it with the EU acquis.
INFORMEST participates in the project as a Mandated Body and is responsible for the administrative and financial management of project activities, as well as operational support to the experts involved in implementing the planned actions.
North Macedonia: Twinning Project Continues Activities to Strengthen IPM and Combat Pine Wood Nematodes
The Twinning project aims to enhance North Macedonia’s national plant protection system by aligning phytosanitary legislation with European Union standards. This important initiative supports the national pre-accession process, facilitating the implementation of the “Stabilization and Association Agreement.” It also contributes to the “National Program for Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA),” revision 2021-2023, ensuring legislative harmonization.