CEFTA Week 2021 took place 13-16 December in Skopje, North Macedonia. The annual event serves as an opportunity to take stock of the results and achievements from the year-long chairmanship of CEFTA (the Central European Free Trade Agreement), held by North Macedonia during 2021.

Over the four days, Skopje hosted high officials from the CEFTA parties, business representatives, diplomats, and representatives from the EU and other international organisations. Speakers at the flagship CEFTA Week 2021 Conference “15 years making trade happen” held on the final day included, Kreshnik Bekteshi, North Macedonia Minister of Economy, Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Marko Cadez, President of the Managing Board of the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF), Majlinda Bregu, Secretary-General of the Regional Cooperation Council, and Emir Djikić, Director of the CEFTA Secretariat.

The 2021 CEFTA Week got underway with official CEFTA meetings and workshops organised in cooperation with partners from the European Union Intellectual Property Office, USAID North Macedonia and WB6 CIF and with the support of the European Commission. A series of events also covered specific trade-related topics stemming from the Common Regional Market Action Plan, such as e-commerce, recognition of certificates, qualifications, and licences, and intellectual property rights.