The successful implementation of the Twinning Light Project, “Supporting the Civil Aviation Agency in the Field of Aviation Safety and Security”, funded by the EU and implemented by the Croatian Civil Aviation Administration and the Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia, as a twinning partner, was concluded at the ceremony in Skopje today.

Addressing the present high-ranking representatives of the EU as well as from the Croatian and Macedonian state institutions, the Director General of the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency, Mr. Dragi Stojanoski, pointed out that the achieved results are evidently, not only in improved aviation safety and security practices, but also in strengthening of institutional capacities.

The continuous investment in improving the regulatory framework, capacity building and professional development will be of essential importance in the pursuit of raising standards in the field of civil aviation, emphasized Stojanoski.

The Head of Cooperation in the EU Delegation in the country, Steffen Hudolin, emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation between the EU and North Macedonia with the intention of deepening the integration processes and facilitating the approximation of regulatory and operational frameworks in the field of aviation.

According to the Croatian Ambassador, H.E. Nives Tiganj, this successfully implemented project is an affirmation of Croatia’s professional capacity to firmly support the efforts of the beneficiary country on its European path.

Affirming satisfaction from the remarkably high-quality cooperation and dedication of the colleagues from the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency in raising the capacities and qualities of the Macedonian civil aviation regulator, the Director of the Croatian CAA, Ana Kapetanovic, expressed her confidence that the CAA will grow into one of the institutional leaders on the country’s path to the EU in the forthcoming period.

The project leader from the Member State, Mr. Zlatko Širac, and the project leader from the beneficiary country, Ms. Maja Vaskova-Kjulavkovska, presented the results achieved in all three project components:

  • Policy and legal framework development;
  • Capacity for aviation safety and security oversight;
  • Human capital management and development system.

Twinning is European Union instrument for institutional cooperation between public administrations of EU Member States and beneficiary or partner countries. The Project was funded by the European Union. The Croatian Civil Aviation Agency received 250,000 euros from EU funds for the implementation of the Twinning Light Project in the Republic of North Macedonia. The project`s partners showed great commitment to the Project and this resulted in its successful implementation and the achievement of all required results and outcomes.