Republic of Macedonia Country Report

The Republic of North Macedonia is a landlocked emerging democracy in south-east Europe formed after secession from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. It is located in the central Balkan Peninsula, bordered by Kosovo to the north-west, Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south and Albania to the west. The political situation stabilized significantly after the 2001 conflict between the government and ethnic Albanians, although tensions between the two have the potential to generate widespread unrest. North Macedonia jointed NATO in March 2020 and has begun high-level accession dialogue with the EU. Economic and political corruption is widespread in Macedonia, hampering the investment climate. Primary threats to foreign travelers stem from petty crime, road accidents and unexploded ordnance, particularly in the north-west. Macedonia’s generally underdeveloped infrastructure presents obstacles to foreign investment and economic growth. Macedonia officially changed its name to the Republic of North Macedonia on 13 February 2019 following a lengthy dispute with Greece.

Tensions between rival communities generate an underlying risk of internal conflict. The potential threat from terrorism cannot be discounted given the presence of individuals and organizations with links to terrorist groups in the country. Levels of petty crime are a concern, although violent crime against travelers is relatively rare. Socio-economic issues and political tensions periodically lead to rounds of public unrest.

There are no serious risks associated with air travel in Macedonia.

Hazardous driving habits by some local road users and poor road conditions in rural areas can make overland travel dangerous.

There are no seaports in North Macedonia.

Utilities are considered good.

The country is considered an attractive target for cyberattacks. Its defenses against such an attack are thought to be weak.

Macedonia is located in a seismically active region and is susceptible to earthquakes. The country also experiences occasional wildfires during the summer months between June and September. Heavy rains may also lead to floods. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) and residual landmine contamination dating from 2001 exist in the north-west.

Medical care is adequate for routine problems, but specialized treatment may not be available. The health system in all parts of Macedonia is suffering from shortages of medicines and other supplies. Complex medical cases may require evacuation.

North Macedonia is a unitary multi-party parliamentary republic. The President is the head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government. Presidential elections take place once every five years. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet form the government and exercise executive power. The unicameral parliament, or the Assembly, exercises legislative power. Parliamentary elections take place once every four years, but snap elections have been called in the past in response to political developments. The judiciary is nominally independent of the executive and the legislature but is widely regarded as corrupt and vulnerable to external pressures.

Coalitions featuring a cross-section of political parties are typically required to form the government. Government collapses are rare. State institutions are moderately competent but provide unreliable services in rural areas.