#NORTH MACEDONIA

Authorities in North Macedonia and Serbia, supported by Europol, have dismantled a criminal network producing and distributing counterfeit euro banknotes, officials said on Wednesday.

An anti-terrorism operation in North Macedonia has led to the arrest of four men suspected of plotting terrorist acts, the country’s interior minister announced on Sunday.

A former Macedonian defense minister has been appointed NATO’s deputy secretary general, the alliance announced on Tuesday.

North Macedonia and Serbia have agreed to build a 70km gas interconnector gas pipe which will enable Serbia to import gas from Greece.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has been involved in a scuffle with North Macedonian airport security, prompting the former to issue an official protest note demanding explanation for the incident.

The European Commission has sent six helicopters and three firefighting planes to assist in battling wildfires raging in North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Greece has accused North Macedonia of a “gross violation” of an international agreement after the country’s new Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the use of “North” was “shameful”.

Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated on Thursday his intention to thwart North Macedonia’s bid to join the European Union (EU).

North Macedonia’s right-wing opposition looks set to record big wins in Wednesday’s parliamentary and presidential elections as voters look to voice their dissatisfaction with endemic corruption and the country’s stalled bid to join the EU.

North Macedonia’s hopes of joining the EU could face a setback if its rightist opposition party makes headway in Wednesday’s parliamentary and presidential elections.

North Macedonian presidential candidate Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova held a big lead over incumbent Stevo Pendarovski in votes counted from almost 70% of polling stations on Wednesday, yet both were well short of the 50% needed to win outright.

North Macedonians are going to the polls on Wednesday for the country's seventh-ever presidential election, in which more than 1.8 million eligible voters can choose one of seven candidates for a five-year term.

North Macedonia’s presidential election scheduled for Wednesday focused on corruption, the country’s security and role in NATO, and integration with the European Union, among other issues.

North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister, Bujar Osmani, met with ambassadors of EU and NATO countries in Skopje on Wednesday.