A recap of the key economic headlines and research for Macedonia in the last quarter. What do I need to know?

· 22 March 2018 – Kicevo to Ohrid highway completion deadline extended to June 2021 – link.

· 16 April 2018 – AccelorMittal looking to divest itself of its steel mill in Skopje and Bucharest as it seeks EU regulatory approval for its acquisition of Italian steel maker Ilva.

· 17 April 2018 – European Commission releases 2018 report on Macedonia recommending that the EU begin ascension talks with Macedonia.

· 19 April 2019 – Skopje hosts the first ever Western Balkans Digital Summit.

· 24 April 2018 – Macedonia issued 30 year bonds for the first time, €19.5m was raised at a coupon rate of 4.85 per cent. The only other country to issue 30 year bonds in the region is Slovenia.

· 3 May 2018 – Macedonia signs cooperation agreement with Democratic Control of Armed Forces (Swiss NGO) to improve the governance of security and intelligence services.

· 14 May 2018. Finance minister announces that the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and EIB (European Investment Bank) will help fund a wind park in Miravci and a solar park in Oslomej – link.

· 14 May 2018 – Kosovo announces plan to build 55km highway to the border with Macedonia – link.

· 15-16 May 2018 – Western Balkans Summit in Sofia: French president said he wants to see the Western Balkans “anchored in the EU”. Angela Merkel said “I do not think 2025 is a realistic date for the EU enlargement. More important is the progress that has been achieved by the candidates” – link

· 21 May 2018 – law passed to enable liberalization of Macedonian electricity market by 2019 – link

· 22 May 2018 – New governor assumes role at National Bank: Anita Angelovska Bezhoska – link

· 1 June 2018 – Census announced for 2020 – link

· 13 June 2018 – World Bank lowers Macedonia’s 2018 GDP growth forecast from 3.2 per to 2.3 – link (p124)

· 17 June 2018 – Prespa Lake Accord signed – Greek and Macedonian governments agree on a name change for Macedonia – link

· 26 June 2018 – Reports says that EU ascension negotiations to start in June 2019; France, Holland, and Denmark want to see improvements in the fight against corruption in Macedonia and Albania – link

· 12 July 2018 – Macedonia officially invited to NATO – link

Article by Brendan Filipovski, Research Manager