AGP Executive Report

Mihaylova Dispute: North Macedonia is seeking the arrest and extradition of Iva Mihaylova, a dual citizen facing trial over a fatal 2025 road crash. Bulgaria says its constitution allows it to refuse extradition of Bulgarian citizens unless a ratified treaty permits it; no Interpol Red Notice has been issued. Skopje has protested Mihaylova’s reception in Sofia and summoned Bulgaria’s ambassador, while prosecutors seek her detention over alleged breaches of court restrictions. EU Enlargement: Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski is listed among the leaders due at the EU Enlargement Forum in Brussels next month. Georgia’s government has no representatives on the published speaker list, amid strained ties with the bloc. Cybercrime: North Macedonian police and the FBI arrested the alleged administrator of OLVX, a marketplace accused of selling stolen personal data and login credentials.

Mihaylova Extradition Dispute: North Macedonia has asked Bulgaria to arrest and extradite dual citizen Iva Mihaylova, who faces trial over a fatal 2025 crash. Sofia says it will not surrender Bulgarian citizens without a ratified treaty; no Interpol Red Notice has been issued, leaving the case a fresh test of ties between the neighbours. Cybercrime Enforcement: North Macedonian police and the FBI arrested an alleged administrator of OLVX, an online marketplace accused of selling stolen personal data and login credentials. EU Enlargement: Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski is listed among leaders attending the EU Enlargement Forum in Brussels in November, putting North Macedonia among the candidate countries represented. Inheritance Tax: A Skopje case has renewed scrutiny of a 1996 law that classifies a childless surviving spouse as a second-order heir, potentially exposing them to inheritance tax.

Mihaylova Dispute: Bulgaria says it will not extradite dual national Iva Mihaylova, citing protections for Bulgarian citizens, as she receives treatment in Sofia. North Macedonia’s prosecutors have sought her detention after she missed police check-ins, and Skopje has issued an international arrest warrant over a fatal 2025 crash. The dispute has escalated into a diplomatic row, with Skopje accusing Sofia of undermining its judicial process. EU Accession: Bulgaria says it will not renegotiate North Macedonia’s EU accession commitments and expects Skopje to meet the 2022 conditions. Separately, the EU’s democratic resilience centre is opening cooperation with candidate countries, including North Macedonia, on tackling foreign interference and protecting journalists. Regional Security: NATO’s senior commander, former North Macedonian defence minister Radmila Shekerinska, urged allies to invest more in defence as the alliance warned it is ready to respond to an attack.

Mihaylova Case: North Macedonia’s Kočani prosecutors are seeking Iva Mihaylova’s detention after she failed to report to police while in Bulgaria, where she is receiving medical care. Skopje has issued an international arrest warrant and summoned Bulgaria’s ambassador, calling her reception a blow to judicial cooperation. The ambassador said the case is humanitarian and should not be politicized; a court must still decide on detention. EU Cooperation: The European Commission is opening its Democratic Resilience Centre to North Macedonia and other EU candidates, with joint work planned on crisis response, foreign interference and support for journalists. Regional Tensions: Greece formally protested to Skopje over a basketball-fans’ banner depicting parts of Greece and other neighbours as North Macedonian territory, saying it breached the 2018 name agreement.

Mihaylova Case: North Macedonia’s prosecutors are seeking Iva Mihaylova’s remand in custody, saying she breached court-imposed restrictions and may flee. She is in Bulgaria for medical treatment while facing trial over a fatal road crash. Skopje-Sofia Tensions: Skopje has criticized Bulgaria’s handling of her arrival and summoned its ambassador, who said the humanitarian case should not be politicized. The dispute has sharpened strains over judicial cooperation and good-neighbourly relations. EU Accession: Bulgaria again ruled out renegotiating North Macedonia’s EU commitments, urging Skopje to meet the terms agreed in 2022. Regional Security: NATO commander Alexus Grynkewich said the alliance is ready to respond to an attack; former North Macedonian defence minister Radmila Shekerinska called on allies to increase defence spending.

Mihaylova Case: North Macedonia says it found no record of Iva Mihaylova leaving for Bulgaria and plans to raise her reception in Sofia with the EU and Council of Europe. She is receiving hospital treatment while facing trial over a fatal 2025 crash; Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovachev says Skopje has no grounds to complain. EU Accession: Bulgaria again ruled out renegotiating North Macedonia’s EU commitments, urging Skopje to meet the terms agreed in 2022. Relations with Greece: Athens formally protested a basketball banner in Skopje depicting Greek territory as part of North Macedonia, saying it violated the spirit of the Prespa Agreement. Regional Cooperation: Greece, Albania and North Macedonia are pursuing joint cultural projects and a UNESCO bid for the Prespa region.

Mihaylova Case: Iva Mihaylova has reached Bulgaria for medical treatment after crossing North Macedonia’s border with her North Macedonian ID. She says border police helped her leave; her trial over a fatal 2025 road crash is due to continue. Greek-North Macedonia Tensions: Greece has formally protested a basketball-fans’ banner depicting parts of Greece and other neighbours as North Macedonian territory, saying it breaches the spirit of the 2018 Prespa Agreement. EU Accession: Bulgaria says it will not discuss revising North Macedonia’s 2022 EU commitments, including constitutional recognition of Bulgarians. Separately, the European Commission is proposing closer integration before enlargement and safeguards against democratic backsliding. Regional Cooperation: Greece, Albania and North Macedonia are advancing a joint UNESCO bid for the Prespa region, alongside cultural cooperation and restoration work at Kurbinovo’s Byzantine church.

Greek-Macedonian Relations: Greece formally protested a basketball fans’ banner depicting Thessaloniki and Halkidiki as part of North Macedonia, saying it violated the spirit of the Prespa Agreement. EU Accession: Bulgaria says it will not renegotiate North Macedonia’s 2022 EU commitments and insists constitutional amendments recognizing Bulgarians as a community remain necessary; Sofia says it has set no additional conditions. Regional Cooperation: North Macedonia, Greece and Albania signed a declaration seeking UNESCO status for the Prespa region, while restoration of the 12th-century Kurbinovo church frescoes was completed with Greek support. Energy Security: Serbia says construction of its section of a gas link with North Macedonia will begin next week; North Macedonia’s work is expected to start in early 2027. Security: Five people were arrested in Skopje in a joint operation targeting an alleged Islamic State-linked group, with weapons and other equipment seized. Cross-Border Voting: Seven polling stations will open in North Macedonia for Bulgaria’s October 25 presidential election.

Greek-North Macedonian Tensions: Greece formally protested a nationalist banner at an MZT Skopje basketball game that depicted Thessaloniki and Halkidiki as part of North Macedonia, saying it violated the spirit of the Prespa Agreement. EU Accession: Bulgaria says it will not renegotiate North Macedonia’s 2022 commitments and continues to press for constitutional amendments recognizing Bulgarians. Regional Connectivity: Officials at a Corridor VIII conference in Sofia cast the route linking the Adriatic and Black seas as both an economic and security priority; the unfinished Bulgaria–North Macedonia railway remains a key gap. Prespa Cooperation: Greece, Albania and North Macedonia signed a declaration seeking UNESCO World Heritage status for the Prespa region, following restoration of a Byzantine church in North Macedonia. Security: North Macedonia was among six countries that detained or charged Islamic State-linked suspects; five were arrested in a September operation in Skopje.

EU Accession: Bulgaria says it will not renegotiate North Macedonia’s 2022 EU commitments, including constitutional changes recognizing Bulgarians. Foreign ministers Timcho Mucunski and Velislava Petrova agreed to keep talking, but Mucunski said their positions remain far apart. Regional Links: Officials at a Corridor VIII conference in Sofia framed the route through North Macedonia as an economic and security priority. Serbia says construction on its gas interconnector with North Macedonia will start next week; North Macedonia’s section is expected to begin in early 2027. Rule of Law: Mucunski said the executive must not interfere in judicial decisions in the case of Iva Mihaylova, a dual citizen seeking medical treatment abroad. Prespa Cooperation: Greece, Albania and North Macedonia signed a declaration to pursue UNESCO World Heritage status for the region; restoration of the 12th-century frescoes at Kurbinovo’s St George Church has also been completed.

Prespa Cooperation: Greece, Albania and North Macedonia signed a declaration to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the Prespa region, linking conservation and cultural heritage with closer cross-border ties. Greece also helped fund the restoration of rare 12th-century frescoes at Kurbinovo’s St George church. EU Accession: Bulgaria says it will not renegotiate North Macedonia’s 2022 commitments and expects constitutional amendments recognizing Bulgarians as a community. After talks in Sofia, North Macedonia’s foreign minister said the meeting was constructive but left the sides far apart. Regional Connectivity: Corridor VIII talks in Sofia cast the route as a strategic economic and security link; Serbia says work on its gas connection with North Macedonia will start next week, with construction on the Macedonian side planned for early 2027. Security: North Macedonia’s authorities arrested five suspects in a Skopje operation targeting an Islamic State-linked group, seizing weapons and equipment. Rule of Law: The foreign minister said the executive should not interfere in Iva Mihaylova’s court case; Mihaylova and her mother dispute his claim that she can access adequate treatment at home.

Prespa Cooperation: North Macedonia, Greece and Albania signed a declaration seeking UNESCO World Heritage status for the Prespa region, highlighting its shared natural and cultural heritage. The initiative followed restoration of the 1191 frescoes at Kurbinovo’s Byzantine Church of St George, supported by Greek experts and funding. EU Accession: Bulgaria says it will not renegotiate North Macedonia’s 2022 EU commitments and insists constitutional amendments recognizing Bulgarians are required. Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski said recent talks were constructive but resolved no substantive issues; dialogue will continue. Regional Connectivity: A ministerial conference in Sofia cast Corridor VIII as a strategic link for trade, security and European integration. Serbia says work on its section of a gas interconnector with North Macedonia will begin next week; Skopje plans to start its share in early 2027. Rule of Law: Mucunski said the executive must not interfere in the court case involving Iva Mihaylova, whose family says court restrictions are preventing her from obtaining urgent treatment abroad. Security: North Macedonian authorities arrested five suspects in a Skopje operation against an Islamic State-linked group, seizing weapons, equipment and cash.

EU Accession: Bulgaria’s foreign minister says Sofia will not discuss renegotiating North Macedonia’s EU commitments and rejects deferred constitutional changes. She says Skopje must include Bulgarians in the Constitution under the 2022 agreement. North Macedonia’s foreign minister says talks with Sofia were constructive but made no substantive progress; dialogue will continue. Corridor VIII: Ministers from North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania framed the route as an economic, security and European priority at a Sofia conference. Serbia says work on the first five kilometres of its gas link with North Macedonia starts next week; North Macedonia’s section is due to begin in early 2027. Rule of Law: A stalled Judicial Academy intake means North Macedonia will train no new judges or prosecutors for at least two years, as vacancies and budget shortfalls leave courts vulnerable to political pressure. Security: Authorities arrested five suspects in Skopje in a September operation against an Islamic State-linked group, seizing firearms, ammunition and other equipment. Bulgaria Vote: Seven polling stations will open in North Macedonia for Bulgaria’s October 25 presidential election; 265 people have registered.

EU Accession: North Macedonia’s talks with Bulgaria in Sofia produced no breakthrough. Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski called the meeting constructive but said the countries remain far apart; Sofia insists Skopje must carry out the 2022 commitments, including constitutional amendments. Corridor VIII: Regional ministers and EU officials cast the route linking the Adriatic and Black seas as a strategic economic and security project. Its unfinished rail link between North Macedonia and Bulgaria remains a key gap. Iva Mihaylova Case: Mucunski said the executive must not interfere in court decisions, while Bulgaria pressed for medical access for the woman facing trial after a fatal crash. North Macedonia has agreed to let Bulgarian specialists examine her, though Mihaylova and her mother dispute the minister’s account of available care. Rule of Law: A canceled Judicial Academy intake means no new judges or prosecutors are expected for at least two years; about one in three judicial posts is vacant, raising concerns about state capture. Energy Links: Serbia says it will begin laying pipes for its gas interconnector with North Macedonia next week, with completion targeted for 2028.

Judicial Independence: North Macedonia’s courts face a staffing crunch: one in three judicial posts is vacant, and cancelled academy admissions mean no new judges or prosecutors are expected before 2028. The shortfall in funding and public trust could leave the system vulnerable to political influence. EU Accession: At a Sofia meeting, North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski is expected to discuss EU integration with Bulgaria’s Velislava Petrova, who says she will also raise the case of Iva Mihaylova. The talks follow renewed EU pressure to get the accession process moving. Regional Links: A Sofia conference is urging faster work on Corridor 8, the road and rail route connecting the Adriatic and Black Seas through North Macedonia, Albania and Bulgaria. Serbia also says it will start laying pipes next week for its gas link with North Macedonia, a project planned for completion in early 2028.

Energy Links: Serbia says it will begin laying the first pipes next week for a gas interconnector with North Macedonia, targeting completion in early 2028. The project is part of a wider regional push to link Balkan supplies with Greece and the Vertical Gas Corridor. Public Health: North Macedonia has paused use of a Bulgarian-made BCG vaccine as a precaution while concerns are checked. Health Minister Sasho Klekovski says the batches under scrutiny are expired and not being administered; UNICEF has agreed to supply Japanese vaccines for a year. EU Accession: Brussels is weighing safeguards for future members, including funding cuts and suspension of voting rights. North Macedonia’s accession path remains stalled over constitutional changes, while President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova says integration should not be treated solely as a bilateral issue. Fuel Security: North Macedonia’s reserves cover 45 days of net imports, below the 90-day requirement, according to Energy Community data.