IMPLEMENTATION OF EU REGIONAL POLICY AND LEGISLATION IN NORTH MACEDONIA: FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT

European Union is strongly committed to the economic, social, and environmental equalization of regions in the member states and in the EU as a whole. The regional development policy is aimed at mitigating economic and other disproportions in the regions and at more balanced development. A big part of EU budget is directed to regional development through the financial support of the regions in the member states. The financial and other instruments for supporting regional policy are determined in the extensive legislation. The EU regional policy also stimulates cross-border regional cooperation. North Macedonia as a state with candidate status for membership of the EU, implements EU policies and legislation in the sphere of regional and environmental development. In 2021 was adopted a Law on balanced regional development and Strategy on balanced regional development. The country has 81 local self-government units: 80 municipalities, and the city of Skopje, as a local government unit with the special status. Local units have a status of legal person and have their own directly elected institutions. Also exists 8 regional planning regions, which do not have the status of legal persons.These regions have adopted regional action plans, that include the environmental area. Disproportion in regional development has caused a number of problems. National regional policy and legislation determined a goal of at least 1% of GDP to be intended to regional development. A significiant part of this policy and legislation pays attention to the improvement the quality of the environment in the regions which will lead to economic development and better quality of life in all parts of the country. However, in the near future, the country has to make more efforts to mitigate all aspects of disproportions in regional development.