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Consolidating North Macedonia’s Institutional Framework for Circular Economy Transition

Consolidating North Macedonia’s Institutional Framework for Circular Economy Transition

National Workshop

22 October 2024 8:30 - 18:15
Aleksandar Palace Hotel, Skopje, North Macedonia

Background

SDG boxes

In the face of mounting pressures on natural resources and environmental degradation, the circular economy concept presents an innovative approach for steering economies towards new development paths that are restorative and regenerative by design. The concept emphasizes replacing the traditional “take-make-dispose” linear production models with circular ones, which operate in closed loops. In such systems, waste is minimized, and materials are kept in circulation for as long as possible by creating circular value chains and using clean, energy efficient production methods.

This comprehensive approach not only addresses environmental challenges but also opens new opportunities for economic diversification and social development, rendering the circular economy a key element in accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Government of North Macedonia has already taken steps towards consolidating the required framework for facilitating the country’s transition to a circular economy, as part of a broader effort to accede the European Union (EU).

Achievements to date have involved, among others, the adoption of strategic documents for integrating circular economy principles into national policies and legislation in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of the Community acquis. These include the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (2024-2044) that integrates the circular economy principles; the National Plan for Waste Management (2021-2031); the National Waste Prevention Plan (2022-2028); the Strategy on Climate Action (2021-2051); the Strategy for Energy development until 2040; the National Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (2021-2027) and associated Rural Development Programme (2021-2027); and, the Smart Specialisation Strategy (2024-2027) and associated Action Plan to facilitate the greening of key sectors. Most recently, and with the support of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the country has finalised A Roadmap Towards Circular Economy of North Macedonia.

Upon the request of the Government, this workshop seeks to support policy makers and regulators in their efforts to ensure the country’s successful transition towards a circular economy.

Agenda

[eng] [mkd]

Moderator: Mr. Ariel Ivanier, Chief, Market Access Section, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE

Time

Session

8:30 - 9:00

Registration

9:00 - 9:20

Opening

  • H.E. Mr. Kire Ilioski, Ambassador, Director for Multilateral Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, North Macedonia
  • Mr. Blerim Zllatku, State Advisor, Ministry of Economy and Work, North Macedonia
  • Ms. Rita Columbia, Resident Coordinator, United Nations Resident Coordination Office, North Macedonia

9:20 - 10:25

North Macedonia’s development landscape: National reforms and future challenges

  • Trade Facilitation

Mr. Marjan Tasevski, Director of Sector for Customs System, Customs Administration, North Macedonia

  • Environmental sustainability

Ms. Ana Karanfilova Maznevska, Head of Waste Department, Ministry of Environment, North Macedonia

  • Quality Infrastructure

Ms. Neriman Xheladini, Head of Department Single Market, Ministry of Economy and Work, North Macedonia

  • Construction

Mr. Toni Arangelovski, Professor, Civil Engineering Faculty, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia (UKIM)

10:25 - 10:40

Unpacking the concept of the circular economy: Principles and business models

  • Ms. Hana Daoudi, Economic Affairs Officer, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE

10:40 - 11:00

Upscaling the textile industry’s circular practices: the role of traceability

  • Ms. Claudia Di Bernardino, Partner at TMShell Law Firm and UN/CEFACT (United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business) project expert, UNECE Team of Specialists on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Traceability of Supply Value Chains

11:00 - 11:15

Coffee Break

11:15 - 11:50

Circular stories from North Macedonia’s textiles industry

  • Ms. Natasha Sivevska, Executive Director, Textile Trade Association, North Macedonia
  • Ms. Evgenija Najdska, Manager, Waste Management, Comfy Angel, North Macedonia
  • Ms. Sirma Zheleva, Head of Sustainable Solutions Textile Recovery Solutions, TexCycle, Republic of Bulgaria 

11:50 - 12:10

From farm to fork: Circular innovations in the food industry

  • Mr. Shane Ward, Professor Emeritus of Biosystems Engineering, School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin

12:10 - 13:00

Circular stories from North Macedonia’s food industry

  • Mr. Petar Georgievski, President, Rural Development Network of the North Macedonia
  • Mr. Abdulezel Dogani, Chief Executive Officer, Vezë Sharri, North Macedonia
  • Mr. Jana Klopcevska, Associate Professor, Department of Food and Biotechnology, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia (UKIM)
  • Mr. Ismail Ferati, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Tetova, North Macedonia
  • Ms. Irena Djimrevska, Advisor and Project Coordinator, Deutsche Gesellschaft fürInternationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Ms. Aleksandra Karaevska Dimovska, Advisor, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

13.00 - 13.20

Questions and answers

13:20 - 14:20

Lunch Break

14:20 - 14:40

Closing the loop: Best practices in waste management for circularity

  • Mr. Gergely Hankó, Managing Director, Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises (HAEE)

14:40 - 15:45

Circular stories from North Macedonia’s waste treatment industry

  • Mr. Filip Ivanov, Deputy President, Macedonian Solid Waste Association (MASWA)
  • Ms. Natasha Bakreska, Environmental and Alternative Fuels Manager, Titan Cement Plant Usje, North Macedonia, Member of MASWA 
  • Mr. Filip Ivanovski, Managing Director, Pakomak, North Macedonia, Member of MASWA 
  • Mr. Ljubomir Pejovski, Environment Manager, Makstil AD, North Macedonia, Member of MASWA 
  • Ms. Jana Gazhevska, Project Coordinator, Ekocentar 97, North Macedonia 
  • Ms. Angelina Taneva-Veshoska, Institute for Research in Environment, Civil Engineering and Energy (IEGE)
  • Ms. Tamara Todorovska, Deputy Chief of Party/ Public-Private Dialogue Lead, USAID Partnerships for Economic Growth, North Macedonia

15:45 - 16:00

Questions and answers

16:00 - 16:30

Researching circularity: academic perspectives on the transition

  • Mr. Darko Lazarov, Vice Rector, Goce Delcev University of Štip, North Macedonia
  • Ms. Emilija Fidanchevski, Full Professor, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia (UKIM)
  • Ms. Aleksandra Martinovska Stojcheska, Full Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM)

16:30 - 16:45

Coffee Break

16:45 - 17:35

 

Supporting circular economy practices among enterprises: the experience of North Macedonia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  • Mr. Martin Sterzoski, Expert, Centre for Circular Economy, Economic Chamber, North Macedonia
  • Mr. Edvard Sofevski, President, Small Business Chamber of Commerce, North Macedonia
  • Ms. Elena Miloshevska Jovanovska, Country Representative, Swiss Import Promotion Program (SIPPO), North Macedonia
  • Mr. Goran Damovski, Team Leader, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Increasing Market Employability (IME) Program, North Macedonia
  • Ms. Irina Janevska, President, Organization for Social Innovation (ARNO), North Macedonia

17:35 - 17:50

Financing the circular transition

  • Ms. Elisabeta Georgieva, Programme Manager - Operations 1, Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia

17:50 - 18.05

Questions and answers

18:05 - 18:20

Closing remarks: Mapping future cooperation with UNECE

  • Mr. Blerim Zllatku, State Advisor, Ministry of Economy and Work, North Macedonia
  • Mr. Ariel Ivanier, Chief, Market Access Section, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE

Presentations

The presentations given at the workshop will be available from here soon