Organised under the eHUB4LIFE project, the campaign built on the National EU LIFE Info Day held in Skopje on 13 May. It then moved into a series of regional events held between 26 June and 13 July in Gostivar, Tetovo, Bitola, Struga and Skopje. In total, more than 220 representatives from public institutions, universities, businesses and civil society took part.

The sessions focused on the 2026 LIFE Calls for Proposals, giving participants practical guidance on eligibility rules, funding arrangements and application procedures. Experts involved in eHUB4LIFE also shared lessons from previous projects and highlighted common difficulties applicants face when preparing proposals.

A central aim of the campaign was to encourage stronger engagement with LIFE priorities, including biodiversity protection, climate adaptation and the clean energy transition. Organisers invited participants to shape project ideas that respond both to EU policy goals and to North Macedonia’s own environmental challenges. Through questionnaires and question-and-answer sessions, attendees were also able to point to the kinds of technical support they still need.

The opening event in Gostivar underlined the political significance of the initiative. It included contributions from EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas, Environment Minister Muamet Hoxha and Gostivar Mayor Valbon Limani, signalling broad support for greater use of EU environmental and climate funding. Their presence reflected the view that access to LIFE support is strategically important for the country as it works on issues such as waste management and climate resilience.

By taking the campaign beyond the capital, organisers aimed to widen the pool of future applicants and strengthen cooperation across municipalities, academia, business and civil society. According to the information provided, many participants showed interest in preparing joint proposals, especially in areas such as the circular economy and biodiversity.

The campaign appears to have created useful momentum as it offered a space for networking, capacity-building and early technical guidance, while also helping identify where more support is needed. The eHUB4LIFE project is expected to continue this work through further information activities and mentoring, with the goal of improving North Macedonia’s ability to secure LIFE Programme funding in the years ahead.

North Macedonia joined the LIFE Programme in 2023.