Skopje, 12 November 2023 (MIA) - The country is moderately prepared in the area of transport. Limited progress was made in all transport modes though there was a partial alignment with the aviation safety legislation, notes the European Commission's (EC) 2023 Progress Report on North Macedonia.

EC points out that the sector inspection bodies still lack administrative and operational capacity, and political commitment is still missing to deliver on necessary rail sectoral reforms. 

As the previous year’s recommendations were not implemented, reads the report, they remain valid. 

The Commission recommends that in the coming year, North Macedonia should ensure qualified operational and administrative capacity of the inspection bodies and develop their enforcement capacity to reduce deaths on the road and on rail infrastructure. In addition, the country should implement the connectivity reform measures on rail reform and open the rail transport market, amend national law to remove breaches of provisions of the Transport
Community Treaty on opening up the rail market, and finalise pending border-crossing agreements/protocols, and adopt and implement legislation on intelligent transport systems (ITS). 

According to the European Commission, the key strategic documents for transport and its sub-sectors are in place. Limited progress has been made in developing the action plan to accompany the 2018-2030 national transport strategy. The report points out that preparation of the national ITS strategy has progressed, but it has not yet been approved, and national laws are still not aligned with the ITS Directive.

The Commission notes that the operational and administrative capacity for all modes of transport is still lacking, and no effort has been made to strengthen them. The result of this situation is the ineffective implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. 

In addition, an independent rail accident investigation body has still not been created, and larger cities should develop sustainable urban mobility plans, which respect environmental and social standards, following best EU practices. Further efforts are needed to align with the acquis on public passenger transport services by rail and by road. 

"The legal framework for road transport is broadly aligned with the EU acquis and no progress was made during the reporting period. The Law on dangerous goods is aligned with the EU acquis, but there is still no legal entity appointed to conduct a conformity assessment on the existing equipment for the transport of dangerous goods. The executive body for road traffic safety has still not been set up, as the law has not been adopted. Further efforts are needed to align with the social and safety acquis. The national accident and investigation body still needs to be set up. Similarly, no action plans on road safety inspection and audit have been adopted and implemented. The scope and the quality of the road safety statistics have been improved though additional steps are required to align fully with the EU acquis," reads the report. 

It adds that more efforts are needed to align with the EU acquis on road infrastructure safety management and minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the transEuropean road network. Legislation on clean energy and energy efficient road transport vehicles is not aligned with the EU acquis.

On rail transport, the main requirements of the EU acquis are met in terms of the unbundling of the infrastructure manager and the national operator. Further alignment with large parts of the single European railway area acquis continue to be delayed. The rail market is yet to be opened at domestic level. Amended railway safety and interoperability legislation was adopted in 2016, but lacks proper enforcement. Preparations for strengthening the operational capacity of the Railway Safety Directorate have started. There has been no progress in setting up an accident and investigation body.  

In the area of aviation, according to the EC, the country has maintained a good level of alignment with the EU acquis and has partially aligned with the aviation safety legislation.

"North Macedonia should increase efforts to align with and implement EU passenger rights legislation," reds the report. 

Photo: MIA archive