Yesterday afternoon, in Brussels, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius and the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia, Kaja Sukova, signed an agreement on North Macedonia’s association to the LIFE programme for environment and climate action. North Macedonia is the fourth non-EU country to join the programme after Iceland, Ukraine and Moldova. By joining the LIFE programme, North Macedonia will have the opportunity to benefit from LIFE’s support for mobilising public and private resources for climate action, biodiversity protection, circular economy and clean energy transition.

Commissioner Sinkevičius said: “The association of North Macedonia to LIFE is an opportunity to strengthen our joint action to tackle climate change, address pollution, boost the clean energy transition, achieve a circular economy, and protect and restore biodiversity. Closer cooperation will benefit citizens, businesses, and civil society in North Macedonia, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable continent in line with the European Green Deal objectives.”

Public and private organisations from North Macedonia will be able to receive financial support for projects on environment and climate action, such as for example to increase energy efficiency, clean polluted areas, improve the management of water resources, and support the development, monitoring and enforcement of laws similar to the ones in EU.

Applicants from North Macedonia can submit proposals under the LIFE calls for proposals launched in 2023.