Support for EU negotiations and communication (UNOPS-SEA) Stöd till EU förhandlingar och kommunikation (UNOPS-SEA) The contribution supports Macedonia's preparations for EU accession negotiations through the European Affairs Secretariat, at the Prime Minister's Office in the Republic of Macedonia. UNOPS is the implementer and agreement partner to Sida. The project supports internal preparation processes, the negotiation structure, and capacity development of officials, parliamentarians and diplomats involved in the negotiation process. The project also aims to increase the understanding and knowledge of the accession process by involving media and civil society in trainings and communication activities, with a view to better reaching out and raising the quality of communication, as well as the transparency, with regards to the EU integration process. Insatsen är ett stöd till Makedoniens förberedelser för EU-anslutningsförhandlingar genom Sekretariatet för Europafrågor, under Premiärministerns kansli i Makedonien. UNOPS är genomförande part och avtalspart. Stöd ges till interna förberedelseprocesser, förhandingsstrukturen och kapacitetsutveckling av tjänstemän, parlamentariker och diplomater som är involverade i förhandlingsprocessen. Insatsen ska även öka förståelse och kunskap om EU-närmandeprocessen hos media och civilsamhälle för att bättre nå ut med och höja kvaliten på kommunikation kring kring EU-närmandet, samt öka transparensen i förberedelserna och i förhandlingarna. The project Support to progress in North Macedonia - Government reform agenda in the EU Accession process is a part of the Nordic Progress Programme which is jointly financed by Sweden and Norway. The total programme budget is 6,757,050 USD (2,075,038 USD contribution by Sweden and 4,682,012 USD contribution by Norway). Sweden participates in the programme by supporting the programme objective focusing on Support to progress in North Macedonia - Government reform agenda in the EU Accession process, which is to contribute to and to effectively communicate with the public on the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), the EU accession negotiations and the government reform priorities in the Republic of North Macedonia.
The total contribution provided by Sida amounts 20,000,000 SEK. The project implementation period for agreed project activities with Sida is from 01 January 2019 to 31 December 2020.
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the implementing partner preselected by the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA) which is the project owner, in coordination with Norwegian Embassy.
With its support Sweden is focusing to the overall objective to contribute to the preparations of the Government for the Stabilisation and Association Process and to effectively communicate with the public on the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), the EU accession negotiations and the government reform priorities in the Republic of North Macedonia.
The project includes the following expected outcomes:
Result 1: Support the government reform agenda in the accession process
Activity 1.1. Analysis of the Achievements in the first phase of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU for the period 2008-2018.
Activity 1.2. Establishment of the Comprehensive Structure Platform of Macedonia in the Process of Negotiations with the EU and flexible support instrument and cooperation with the CSOs.
Activity 1.3. Support SEA in preparation of NPAA and law approximation and for the screening process.
Activity 1.4 Targeted capacity-building programmes in selected chapters of the acquis for the screening process.
Activity 1.5. Enhancing the Capacity of the Parliament’s Committee for European Integration.
Activity 1.6. Enhance MFA capacities to support and communicate the EU accession process.
Result 2: Awareness of and the effects of EU accession communicated to the public
Activity 2.1 Communicate Government and donor support to the EU Accession process. 
Activity 2.2 Information-education grants and advocacy activities are implemented in partnership with civil society and media organisations.
Activity 2.3 Improvement of the capacities of the media, editors and journalists to report on the EU integration process.
In 2019 the Government of North Macedonia remained committed to its strategic objectives for EU and NATO membership and it continued with implementation of its reform agenda. The project significantly contributed and supported the government to prepare for the start of accession negotiations with the EU, in a turbulent and challenging political context of the country.
No-cost extension of nine months to the project end date (new end date 13th September 2021) is requested by UNOPS as response to the slowdown of activities due to early parliamentary elections and COVID 19 pandemics. The suggested project end date correlates with the agreed end date of the Norwegian support to the programme.