The kick-off conference for the Twinning project “Supporting the Inspection Services for Transportation of Passengers and Goods” (MK 22 IPA TR 01 24) was held on 22 January 2025 in Skopje. Officially launched on 15 October 2024, the project will be implemented over the period of 24 months with a total budget of €1.3 million. Its primary objective is to enhance road transport safety in North Macedonia and align the country’s legislative and institutional framework with European standards.
This project is being implemented through the collaboration of two EU member states – the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Croatia. The lead partner is the Polish General Inspectorate for Road Transport, while Croatia is represented by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, with administrative support from the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA). The beneficiary institution is the State Transport Inspectorate of the Republic of North Macedonia, which will strengthen its capacities and improve the effectiveness of its inspection services through this initiative.
The kick-off conference brought together key representatives from North Macedonia, Poland, and Croatia, along with members of the EU Delegation and the ambassadors of both countries. The speeches highlighted the project’s importance for advancing the Macedonian transport sector and improving road safety. Among the distinguished speakers were:
- Mr. Artur Czapiewski, lead project leader, who emphasized the significance of close cooperation and the transfer of Polish expertise in strengthening transport inspection services. He underscored that the combination of knowledge and skills from all involved parties would ensure the project’s success and help achieve its objectives;
- Mr. Miroslav Lelas, junior project leader, who highlighted Croatia’s valuable contribution as the EU’s newest member. Thanks to its recent experience in aligning with European standards, Croatia, in collaboration with the Polish partners, is in a strong position to provide crucial expertiseto achieve the project’s goals;
- Mr. Ilir Ramadani, beneficiary project leader, who expressed his gratitude to the EU Delegation, Polish, and Croatian partners for their steadfast commitment and support. He invited Macedonian authorities to provide full effort to ensure the successful implementation of the project, ultimately leading to long-term progress in North Macedonia’s transport sector;
- Mr. Steffen Hudolin, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in North Macedonia, who described the project as a key milestone in the country’s integration into the European transport network. He also stressed the importance of the relationships fostered throughout the project, which will not only lead to tangible outcomes but also create a lasting network of experts who will contribute to the sustainable development of the transport sector in the region.
Special support for the project was also expressed by Her Excellency Nives Tiganj, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia, and His Excellency Mariusz Brymora, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland. They both emphasized the project’s potential to improve road safety and stimulate economic growth in the region.
The launch of this project marks a significant step towards modernizing road transport in North Macedonia. By strengthening institutions and aligning with European standards, the project will contribute to a safer, more efficient transport system, bringing this countrycloser to the European transport network.
