Skopje, 22 June 2025 (MIA) – The first EU-MK Sustainable Local Development and Networking Fair took place in Skopje, organized by the EU-funded “EU for Municipalities” Programme. The event brought together municipalities in the country and their partners from EU member countries to share good practices, present innovative solutions and encourage new local cooperation for sustainable development.

Opening the event, Minister of Local Self-Government Zlatko Perinski and the EU Delegation Programme Manager, Enzo Damiani, in their addresses conveyed a strong message on the importance of local self-government in accessing the European Union.

Minister Perinski stressed that the partnership between the government, the municipalities and the EU delegation plays a crucial role in the country’s successful integration into the EU saying EU integration is not only a political goal, but also a process of deep reforms that improve the lives of the citizens. 

Programme Manager Damiani said the process of EU integration starts at local level. The “EU for Municipalities” Programme, he said, has provided support for almost all 81 municipalities in the country yielding concrete results in many areas, including, urban mobility, digitization, energy efficiency and waste management.

The fair brought together representatives of the local self-government, ministries, delegations from Germany and Greece as well as civil organizations and experts. Solutions co-financed by the EU were displayed at eight stands alongside good practices for destination management, sustainable mobility and support of the municipalities. The event also served as a platform for new partnerships, bilateral meetings and sharing of experiences between local and international stakeholders. 

Photo: "EU for Municipalities"