2.5 Cross-border mobility programmes
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EU programmes
Erasmus + Programme
The main EU programme promoting youth mobility, and is available for North Macedonia is the Erasmus + Programme. The decentralized actions of the programme are implemented by the National Agency for European Education Programmes and Mobility.
- In May 2014, Republic of North Macedonia became Programme Country of the Erasmus + Programme, and following actions are available today:
- Key Action 1 – Learning through individuals mobility
- Key Action 2 - Collaborating on Innovation and Sharing Good Practices
- Key Action 3 - Supporting Policy Reform
- Jean Monnet Activities
- Sport
According to the Erasmus + Project Results webpage, by the moment, 943 Erasmus + project involved Macedonian entities, either as coordinator / beneficiary ether as partner. Of those 943 projects, 713 are Key Action 1 - Learning mobility of individuals, 200 are KA2 Projects - Partnership for cooperation and exchange of practices, 2 are Jean Monnet, 21 are KA3 Support for policy reform, and 7 are for sport.
At the moment 26 organizations form North Macedonia are accredited EVS organizations (last checked February 2022).
Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) 2007 - 2013
In December 2005, North Macedonia was granted candidate country status for EU membership. On 18 February 2008 the Council adopted the Accession Partnership for the country, thus updating the previous European Partnership of January 2006. The main objective of IPA is to assist the countries in their progressive alignment with the standards and policies of the European Union, including where appropriate the acquis communautaire, with a view to future membership.
North Macedonia has been given the prospect of becoming an EU member state. On its way towards membership, the European Union provides continuous support and financial assistance in order to help the country with the necessary reforms.
The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) came into effect at the start of 2007 and provided financial support for the country in the period 2007-2013. Afterward IPA II was created for the period 2014-2020 with financial allocation for North Macedonia of € 608.7 million. Young people are a target group of IPA 2014-2020 Action Program EU Support for Education, Employment and Social Policy with one of the aims to strengthen evidence-based policy making and support the employability of youth. IPA also funded the establishment of a Western Balkans Youth Window, within the Youth in Actions program. The main aim of this Program is to support young people's transnational non-formal learning mobility through cooperation projects and activities.
Currently there is a new IPA III for the period 2021-2027. The general objective of the new IPA III instrument is to support the beneficiaries in adopting and implementing the political, institutional, legal, administrative, social and economic reforms required by those beneficiaries to comply with Union values and to progressively align to Union rules, standards, policies and practices with a view to Union membership, thereby contributing to their stability, security and prosperity.
Other Programmes
Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) is an international organization financed by the governments of the region and it is supported by the EU and other donors. They are supporting different youth mobility programmes which can be found on their web page (http://www.rycowb.org)
Legal framework applying to foreign volunteers
Foreign volunteers are subject to the Law on Volunteering as well. Thus, the Law determines the possibilities and conditions for volunteering for foreigners. A foreign individual may volunteer in North Macedonia upon issued Consent for volunteering by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and regulated residence in the Republic of North Macedonia (article 8, par. 2). After the Consent for volunteering is being issued, the organizer of the voluntary service has an obligation to inform the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy about the start of the volunteering activity, within 60 days. The procedures related to the issuing of Consent for volunteering are explained in the Regulation of the manner, procedure and evidence for issuing of Consent for volunteering of foreign (non-residential) individual in the Republic of Macedonia (Правилник за начинот, постапката и евиденцијата за издавање на согласност за волонтирање на странско лице во Република Македонија).
Visas
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia updated their website recently, and here is a list of every country in the world with information about the visa requirements.
These are the visa requirements for entering the Republic of North Macedonia:
- Nationals of EU Member States and signatories of the Schengen Agreement DO NOT need a visa to enter the Republic of North Macedonia (and are eligible to enter the Republic of North Macedonia with a valid national identity card).
- Third-country nationals with temporary residence in an EU Member State or a country signatory of the Schengen Agreement may stay no longer than 15 (fifteen) days upon every entry into the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia as long as the total length of stay does not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Third-country nationals with permanent residence in an EU Member State or a country signatory of the Schengen Agreement may stay no longer than 15 (fifteen) days upon every entry into the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia as long as the total length of stay does not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Third-country nationals with multiple-entry Schengen visa (type C) valid for at least 5 (five) days beyond the intended stay in the Republic of North Macedonia may stay no longer than 15 (fifteen) days upon every entry into the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia as long as the total length of stay does not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.
The Government of the Republic of North Macedonia has adopted a decision to extend the visa exemption until 31 December 2020, for foreign national’s holders of third country valid passports holding valid British, Canadian or U.S. visa. The length of their stay in the Republic of North Macedonia may be up to 15 days, and the validity of the British, Canadian or U.S. visa should be 5 days longer than the planned stay in the Republic of North Macedonia. The total duration of consecutive stays in the Republic of North Macedonia may not exceed (is limited to) 90 days in any 180-day period, which precedes the days of the stay.
Registration of Foreign Nationals
All foreign citizens, regardless whether a visa is necessary for their entry in the Republic of North Macedonia or not, are obliged to register themselves in the nearest police station within 24 hours of their entry on Macedonian territory. For the foreign volunteers in North Macedonia, the organizer of the voluntary service (the host) can assist the volunteer to register.
Customs Guide
The Republic of North Macedonia, according to the legislation, has developed procedures for customs. The customs service of the Republic of North Macedonia developed an information booklet titled “What you need to know when you are departing from and arriving in North Macedonia”. There are no specific custom rules for volunteers.
Residency permit
Long-Stay Visa for the Republic of North Macedonia
In the Republic of North Macedonia in order to obtain a long-stay visa, the applicant should submit the documents corresponding to the visa type, upon receiving a decision on granting temporary residence by the Ministry of Interior.
Temporary residence permits can be granted to those foreigners who intend to stay in North Macedonia for the reasons of work, studying, volunteering, participation in international student exchange programmes, specialization, vocational training and practical training.[1]