North Macedonia’s parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday endorsed a draft law on the ratification of an agreement between the governments of North Macedonia and the United Kingdom to support infrastructure projects, paving the way for it to be included in the agenda of the 52nd plenary session later in the day.
The draft was approved unanimously by the committee, with 10 votes in favour and none against.
Lawmakers from the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party said the deal would enable access to up to £5 billion (around €6 billion) in financing through the UK Export Finance instrument, which they described as a significant injection for the Macedonian economy. They emphasized that all project implementation would be subject to oversight.
“This is not a private deal or about personal interests,” MP Ivanka Vasilevska of VMRO-DPMNE told the committee. “It is a strategic step that offers development opportunities and will be monitored closely.”
Opposition lawmakers, however, raised concerns over the legal nature of the agreement, saying it was presented as a formal treaty while in substance it resembled a memorandum of understanding.
“The content is acceptable as a memorandum, but calling it a treaty sets a precedent that could be problematic in future parliamentary decisions,” said Dimitar Kovachevski of the opposition SDSM party.
The agreement, signed on May 22 in London and previously approved at a government session on May 20, will be in effect for 10 years. It aims to establish cooperation in implementing infrastructure projects in transport, healthcare, energy, technology, and other key sectors.
According to the government, the initial infrastructure package includes the construction and reconstruction of the railway Corridor 10 from Tabanovce to Gevgelija—estimated at €1.9 billion to €2 billion—along with a new clinical hospital, medical faculty, and student dormitory in Shtip, full reconstruction of the Tetovo Clinical Hospital, and the construction of a new hospital and health centre in Kichevo, costing around €200 million.
Annex A of the agreement outlines areas of cooperation, including support for Corridor 8 development, cybersecurity capacity building, digital transformation, and improvements in electricity generation and transmission.
Article 2 of the agreement states that the parties will jointly explore financing options, including through UK Export Finance, which would make £5 billion available exclusively for project implementation.
Article 4 stipulates confidentiality provisions, requiring both parties to protect exchanged information and notify each other prior to any legally required disclosure.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski said the cooperation would comply with the legal frameworks and policies of both countries.
“This is a historic agreement of strategic significance for North Macedonia’s political and economic development,” said VMRO-DPMNE parliamentary group coordinator Nikola Micevski at a press conference. “It lays the foundation for stronger ties with one of the world’s leading powers in finance, science, and innovation.”
Micevski added that the agreement would help North Macedonia develop strategic transport corridors, including two rail lines on Corridor 10—one for high-speed trains over 160 km/h and another for freight—which could generate €100–120 million annually in transit fees.
He said the agreement would also enable the country to benefit from UK expertise and know-how in implementing global standards in infrastructure, healthcare, and institutional reform.
“This is not a party agreement,” Micevski said. “It is a national interest agreement, and I call on the opposition to act responsibly and support this initiative.”
He also noted the one-year anniversary of the current parliamentary composition, claiming the VMRO-DPMNE-led majority had restored institutional order after years of procedural violations under the previous SDSM-DUI coalition.