1.  With a view to implementing the Decision Amending the Decision on Measures for the Prevention of the Introduction and Spread of the COVID-19 Virus (Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia No. 181/20), the following Operating Guidelines have been adopted for unimpeded transit of nationals of the Republic of Serbia, of the Republic of Kosovo, of Montenegro and of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia: 

• Upon entry in the country via a border crossing point for air traffic, at the Skopje International Airport and at the St. Paul the Apostle Airport, in Ohrid, nationals of the above referred to countries do not need to submit a Medical Certificate with a negative PCR test, considering that foreign nationals transit through the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia, i.e. nationals of the above referred to countries need to sign a Statement and must afterwards leave the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia within three hours.
• Nationals of the above referred to countries who enter the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia via land border crossing points, intending to exit the country using a border crossing point for air traffic, at the Skopje International Airport or at the St. Paul the Apostle Airport, in Ohrid, upon entry in the country must obligatorily present airplane tickets (e-tickets), then they must obligatorily  fill in and sign a Transit Statement and must leave the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia within three hours.
• Professional transporters (drivers) do not need to submit a Medical Certificate with a PCR test, being obliged to abide by the Protocol for International Transportation.
• In the case of organized bus transportation or in the case of regular international transit transportation lines, entry for purposes of transit shall be allowed without the obligation to submit a Medical Certificate with a PCR test, but with the obligation to leave the territory of the country within five hours, having first filled in and signed a Transit Statement.

2. Nationals of the Republic of Serbia, of the Republic of Kosovo, of Montenegro and of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have regulated temporary or permanent stay in the Republic of North Macedonia upon every entry in the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia must obligatorily submit a Medical Certificate with a negative PCR test, done 72 hour prior to the entry in the country. 3. Nationals of the Republic of Serbia, of the Republic of Kosovo, of Montenegro and of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have scheduled medical examinations and treatment at health care institutions in the Republic of North Macedonia shall be allowed to enter the country provided that they obligatory submit a Medical Certificate with a negative PCR test, done 72 hour prior to the entry in the country and a medical certificate proving that medical examination or treatment has been scheduled. 4. Nationals of the Republic of Serbia, of the Republic of Kosovo, of Montenegro and of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have dual nationality, and who have permanent residence in the Republic of North Macedonia (according to records available to the Ministry of the Interior or who are holders of an identity card of the Republic of North Macedonia) shall not be obliged to submit a Medical Certificate with a negative PCR test, upon entry in the Republic of North Macedonia. However, if such foreign nationals have a permanent residence in the country of their second nationality (one of the above referred to countries) upon entry in the Republic of North Macedonia they must obligatorily submit a Medical Certificate with a negative PCR test, done 72 hours prior to the entry in the country. 5. Holders of passports issued by the Republic of North Macedonia, who have permanent residence in the Republic of Serbia, in the Republic of Kosovo, in Montenegro or in Bosnia and Herzegovina, upon entry in the Republic of North Macedonia, must obligatorily submit a Medical Certificate with a negative PCR test, done 72 hours prior to the entry in the country. 6. After collecting Statements filled in and signed by nationals of the Republic of Serbia, of the Republic of Kosovo, of Montenegro and of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with the Medical Certificates with PCR tests, the Ministry of the Interior shall submit such Statements and Medical Certificates for examination and certification by designated employees of the Ministry of Health, while the Ministry of Health shall submit such Statements and Medical Certificates to the Regional Public Health Centres, according to the addresses of stay stated. 7. Diplomatic staff of the Republic of Serbia, of the Republic of Kosovo, of Montenegro and of Bosnia and Herzegovina accredited to the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as members  of their families do not need to submit a Medical Certificate with a PCR test, upon entry in the country. 8. Transit shall mean entry at a border crossing point and exit from another border crossing point, while in the course of transit foreign nationals are not allowed to deviate from the designated motorways or regional roads and the transit shall be completed within 5 hours, in all cases, unless explicitly otherwise provided for in the previous items of these Operating Guidelines. 9. Foreign nationals transiting through the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia may avail themselves of the facilities at gas stations along their route, being under the obligation to respect all protocols prescribed by the Ministry of Health applied with a view to prevent the introduction and spread of the COVID-19 virus and all duties set forth under said Protocols.  Companies owning gas stations are under the obligation to implement enhanced controls and supervision of the implementation of and respect for relevant protective and preventive measures. 10. Loss of the Transit Statement shall have as a consequence referral of foreign nationals, transiting through the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia, to a state quarantine for the purpose of examining their health status. 11. With a view to facilitating unimpeded transit, the herewith enclosed  Statement shall be filled in and signed by foreign nationals upon entry in the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia; the filled in and signed Statement shall be certified by the border police and foreign nationals shall present such signed and certified Statement to the border police upon exit from the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia, in order that the border police examine and control  the duration of the transit.  

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STATEMENT

I, ____________________________________________________________________________

holder of passport No.

________________________________________________________________

using a vehicle with vehicle registration plates No.

_____________________________________

hereby confirm that I am travelling with ________________ co-passengers (state the number) and that 

in the course of the transit from  _______________________________________________

to   _____________________________________________ (state the countries) I shall abide by the prescribed period for transit through the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia, as envisaged in the Operating Guidelines

(3 hours ______________, to be marked by a representative of the Ministry of the Interior), or

(5 hours _______________, to be marked by a representative of the Ministry of the Interior,

furthermore confirming that I shall not deviate from the designated route for transiting, as well as that I shall obligatorily present this Statement upon exit from the country to the border police (and if I do not present the Statement, I accept that I may be referred to state quarantine) and that I shall abide by all prescribed protocols and measures in force with a view to preventing the introduction and spread of the COVID-19 virus, which are in pursuance with the standards and recommendations of the World Health Organization.

 

                                                                                                                                                     Signature

                                                                                                                                ___________________________

Time of entry  _____________________

Certification by an official person from

Ministry of the Interior of 

the Republic of North Macedonia

______________________________________

(signature and seal)

A round-table event on “Presentation of the Fundamental Rights Report 2020: Evaluation of Human Rights Standards in North Macedonia through the prism of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, ahead of the opening of EU accession negotiations” was held today in Skopje, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Policy Institute and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. In his opening remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov underlined the importance of the fulfilment of fundamental rights as a constitutional obligation and an obligation undertaken with international agreements such as the European Convention on Human Rights, foremost for the benefit of citizens, but also as an important prerequisite for joining the European Union. FM Dimitrov: “The EU has two strong magnets of attraction: equally strong as the economic one is the magnet comprised of European values, fundamental human rights, rule of law and democratic principles. Accession negotiations give us the most transformative tool that helps us strengthen all of these values at home. In fact, the fulfilment of fundamental rights as an essential part of the “Fundamentals” cluster in EU negotiations will be the subject of constant evaluation by the European Commission and the member states, that is, metaphorically speaking, fundamental rights will either be the “red brake” or the “engine” in our locomotive towards the EU. Let our first refueling station be the adoption of the Law on Protection against Discrimination!” The round-table was attended by representatives of the civil society and institutions responsible for the fulfilment of fundamental rights, and views on the subject were presented by the Ombudsman and observer at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights Idzet Memeti and the Director of the European Policy Institute Simonida Kacarska. The fruitful discussion addressed the report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights on North Macedonia, as well as the key challenges in this field before and during EU accession negotiations, cooperation with the civil society sector in promotion and protection of human rights, improvement of the capacities of the institutions in terms of enjoying human rights, application of the human rights approach in the institutional processes, as well as the role of international instruments, oversight mechanisms and technical support in function of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The event was organized based on comparative practices within the EU for promotion of findings of the Report at national level, as well as the importance of raising awareness for the work of the Agency and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Today the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov met with the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of North Macedonia, H.E. Anke Gisela Holstein, who presented copies of credentials on this occasion. FM Dimitrov: „In addition to intensive bilateral cooperation in the past three years that we are committed to furthering in the future, we eagerly await our joint success as well - the first Intergovernmental conference to be organized particularly during the German Presidency with the Council of the EU. We are grateful for the previous German contribution to building consensus and adopting a positive decision to open EU accession negotiations in March this year.” Wishing her success in the performance of this function, Minister Dimitrov assessed that the previous period marks a particularly dynamic bilateral political dialogue and cooperation in several fields of common interest. Ambassador Holstein reiterated Germany’s support for the realization of our strategic priorities, underlining that although the German Presidency with the Council of the EU is facing the biggest economic challenge in the history of the EU related to the recovery of countries affected by the coronavirus, it will work hard to strengthen the European perspective of our region, thus providing stability and development in the Western Balkans. The interlocutors also discussed the current epidemiological situation and the health challenges faced by our region and beyond, whereupon Minister Dimitrov voiced gratitude to Germany for its support so far against the pandemic in our countries. The meeting also discussed the preparations for holding democratic and fair early parliamentary elections in North Macedonia.