From reform tracking to strategic insight.
The EU Integration & Reforms Observatory & Intelligence is PRESPA Institute’s platform for monitoring, interpreting, and anticipating the country’s European integration process and reform trajectory.
The Observatory tracks reforms, institutional performance, governance developments, and alignment with European standards. Building upon this evidence base, the Intelligence function identifies reform trends, risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities, transforming monitoring data into strategic insight.
The programme seeks to strengthen understanding of reform processes and contribute to more effective, accountable, and evidence-based policymaking by connecting technical assessment with political and institutional analysis.
Programme Lead
Prof. Julijana Bršakoska-Bazerkoska, Ph.D.
External Voice
To Be Determined
Key Initiatives
EU Observatory
The EU Observatory was among PRESPA Institute’s earliest initiatives dedicated to monitoring and analysing North Macedonia’s European integration process. Implemented in partnership with the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia, the initiative examined developments related to the accession process, the negotiation framework, institutional preparedness, reform implementation, and public understanding of European integration.
The Observatory evolved through multiple phases, addressing issues ranging from Cluster 1 fundamentals and accession governance to the Green Deal, the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, digital transformation, Chapter 27, and the effective use of European funding opportunities.
- Structure for Accession Negotiations – Insight Paper on How to improve its functionality, transparency and control
- Roadmap for the European Union – Policy Brief on the Accession Negotiations and the Negotiating Framework
- Image and Reality – North Macedonian 2020 – Research Report on the reality and the image of the state of affairs in the Political Criterion and Chapter 23
Climate Mainstreaming for Just Transition
Building upon PRESPA Institute’s work on European integration and sustainable development, the Climate Mainstreaming for Just Transition initiative explored the intersection between climate policy, European integration, economic transformation, and social inclusion.
The initiative focused on strengthening policy coherence between national priorities and European commitments, promoting alignment with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, supporting understanding of climate-related reforms, and contributing to discussions on a fair and inclusive transition towards a more sustainable economy.
- Double Green Framework – Briefing Material on the Green Deal and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans
- Chapter 27 – Briefing Material on the Legal Framework and the Policy within the Area of Environment Protection
- Western Balkans Economic and Investment Plan – Briefing Material on the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans and the implementation of the Green Agenda
- Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA 3) – Briefing Material on the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance
- Twin Transformation – Research Report on the Green Agenda and the Chapter 27, as well as the available funding for its implementation
- Strategic Response – Policy Study on the coherency of the policy and funding approach in the area of Environment Protection
- Budget Mainstreaming – Methodology and Pilot Report for Climate Mainstreaming of the Budget of the Republic of North Macedonia
Civic Alliance for Reforms and Growth (CARGrow)
CARGrow is PRESPA Institute’s flagship initiative for strengthening civil society participation in the European integration process and monitoring implementation of North Macedonia’s Reform Agenda and the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
The initiative brings together civil society organizations, experts, and stakeholders to monitor reform implementation, strengthen public accountability, support constituency engagement, and facilitate structured dialogue between institutions and society. Through research, monitoring tools, public outreach, policy dialogue, and coalition-building, CARGrow contributes to a more inclusive and evidence-based reform process.
- Beyond the Promises: The Reform Agenda under Scrutiny – Methodology and Current State of Affairs on the Implementation of the Reform Agenda of North Macedonia
- Reform Agenda under Scrutiny – First Ex-Ante Policy Brief on the implementation of the Reform Agenda of North Macedonia
- Reform Agenda under Scrutiny – First Ex-Post Monitoring Report on the implementation of the Reform Agenda of North Macedonia
OWN-EU: Enhancing the Success of Enlargement Through the Political Ownership–Territorial Capital Nexus
PRESPA Institute participates in the Horizon Europe project OWN-EU, a multinational research consortium examining the factors that influence the success of EU enlargement and Europeanisation processes in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood.
The project explores the relationship between political ownership, territorial development, governance capacity, and citizen engagement, while developing innovative approaches to understanding and supporting enlargement policy through comparative research, stakeholder engagement, Living Labs, and policy experimentation.
