AGP Executive Report

Energy Costs & Efficiency: A new ranking using IEA data shows Sweden leads Europe for household energy spending, at $1,926 per person in 2025, with Finland and Austria close behind—highlighting how sharply costs vary across the continent. Rail & Cleaner Freight: North Macedonia has finished rehabilitating the Skopje rail freight bypass, moving freight traffic out of the city centre for an environmental gain and shorter transit times. Heat, Health & Disease Risk: With Europe facing extreme heat, experts warn 50°C conditions are “perfectly possible” in the Mediterranean region, while health reports flag renewed spread of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses, including cases detected in North Macedonia. Energy Transition & Regional Links: Greece is strengthening its role as an energy supplier to Southeast Europe, including via the reopened Thessaloniki–Skopje VARDAX diesel pipeline, as regional gas corridor planning expands with North Macedonia and Serbia joining. Governance & Media Freedom: The EU’s 2026 Rule of Law Report flags ongoing threats, smear campaigns and SLAPPs against journalists in Albania, tying media safety to broader institutional checks.

Climate & Health: With Europe already sweltering, reports warn that heat can fuel the spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes, including West Nile virus, with cases detected this summer season in Italy, Romania and North Macedonia. Transport & Air Quality: North Macedonia has finished rehabilitating the Skopje rail freight bypass, moving freight out of the city centre to cut congestion and improve the environmental footprint while shortening transit times. Energy Transition: Greece is strengthening its role as a Southeast Europe energy supplier, including via the reopened Thessaloniki–Skopje VARDAX pipeline for diesel flows. Regional Energy Security: The Vertical Gas Corridor is expanding—North Macedonia and Serbia have joined—after capacity bookings at the Greek–Bulgarian Sidirokastro interconnector exceeded expectations, with long-term demand signals reaching into the 2040s. EU Governance: The European Commission’s Rule of Law Report again covers North Macedonia, alongside other Western Balkan candidates, highlighting ongoing reform progress and remaining challenges.

Skopje–EU Roadblock: A July 17, 2022 Bulgaria–North Macedonia protocol signed after Skopje approved its EU negotiating framework is still cited in Skopje as a key obstacle to opening accession talks, with the Joint Intergovernmental Commission framework dating back to the 2017 friendship treaty. Heat & Energy Demand: Europe’s household energy use for cooling nearly doubled from 2018 to 2024, as heatwaves push more people toward air conditioning—raising pressure on power systems across the region. Rail Freight for Cleaner Transit: North Macedonia has finished rehabilitating the Skopje rail freight bypass, moving freight out of the city centre to cut urban impacts and improve logistics. Regional Gas Integration: North Macedonia has joined Greece’s Vertical Gas Corridor push, with capacity bookings and technical work underway to expand the route and integrate Balkan energy markets. Public Health Warning: Reports highlight renewed spread of West Nile virus in parts of Europe, including North Macedonia, as hot weather supports mosquito-borne disease risks. Aviation Safety Incident: A Ryanair Boeing 737 emergency return to Thessaloniki followed a shattered cabin window that injured a passenger, underscoring the need for strict safety procedures.

EU Migration Overhaul: The EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into force on June 12, 2026, reshaping how asylum and border control are handled—balancing the right to seek asylum with stronger external controls and more shared responsibility. Heat, Energy, and Health Pressure: With June among the hottest on record, household energy use for cooling across the EU has nearly doubled since 2018, and experts warn Mediterranean temperatures could reach extreme levels, raising wildfire risk and pushing more people indoors with higher energy demand. Local Climate Impacts in the Region: Health officials flag the spread of dangerous viruses linked to hot weather and travel, including West Nile cases detected in parts of Europe and North Macedonia. Cleaner Freight Through Skopje: North Macedonia completed the rehabilitation of the Skopje rail freight bypass, diverting cargo traffic away from the city center for an environmental gain and faster transit for shippers. Regional Energy Security: Greece continues expanding as an energy supplier to Southeast Europe, including fuel deliveries to North Macedonia, while the Vertical Gas Corridor adds North Macedonia and Serbia and moves toward broader integration.

Heat & Health: Europe’s cooling demand is surging as June hits record warmth, with household energy for cooling in the EU nearly doubling from 2018 to 2024—an energy and climate stress signal for the region. Extreme Weather: Experts warn Mediterranean summers could push toward 50°C, with wildfires already flaring across parts of southern Europe. Mosquito-Borne Risks: With hot weather, West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases are spreading again; North Macedonia is among places reporting infections this season. Cleaner Transport for Freight: North Macedonia has completed the Skopje rail freight bypass rehabilitation, diverting cargo traffic away from the city center for an environmental win and faster transit. Energy Security & Integration: The Vertical Gas Corridor is expanding—North Macedonia and Serbia have joined—while Greece and Bulgaria push plans to accelerate Southeast and Central Europe energy market integration. Regional Cooperation: At the Ukraine–South-East Europe Summit in Kyiv, North Macedonia’s leadership backed stronger support for Ukraine, including air defense and sanctions pressure on Russia.

Skopje Freight Upgrade: North Macedonia has finished rehabilitating the Skopje rail freight bypass, moving cargo traffic out of the city centre to cut environmental impacts and shorten transit times. Heat & Health Risks: Experts warn Mediterranean temperatures could hit 50°C, while doctors flag rising mosquito-borne threats like West Nile virus, with cases reported across Europe including North Macedonia. Regional Energy Integration: Greece is strengthening its role as a Southeast Europe energy supplier, including via the reopened Thessaloniki–Skopje VARDAX diesel pipeline, as the Vertical Gas Corridor expands with North Macedonia and Serbia joining technical work. Gas Corridor Momentum: Capacity bookings for the Vertical Gas Corridor exceeded expectations, with long-term reservations extending into the 2040s. Disease Spread Linked to Climate: A report links hot weather to faster spread of dangerous infections in tourist destinations, raising concerns for summer travel.

Extreme Heat Watch: WHO warns Europe is heading into its “deadliest weeks” as a new heatwave builds, with Portugal and southern Spain possibly reaching 43°C and other regions already above 40°C—raising public health risks and stressing the need for heat action plans. Mosquito-Borne Disease Alert: With hotter weather, West Nile virus is returning across Europe; cases have been detected in Italy and also reported in Romania and North Macedonia, while chikungunya and dengue are spreading in holiday hotspots. Local Transport & Emissions: North Macedonia has completed the rehabilitation of the Skopje rail freight bypass, diverting freight away from the city centre for an environmental gain and shorter transit times. Regional Energy Security: Greece’s growing role as a Southeast Europe energy supplier is linked to regional fuel and electricity exports, including the reopening of the Thessaloniki–Skopje VARDAX pipeline feeding North Macedonia. Gas Corridor Expansion: The Vertical Gas Corridor is moving forward as North Macedonia and Serbia officially join, with technical preparations underway and capacity bookings already exceeding expectations. Public Health & Climate Links: A separate report notes Europe’s heat could make 50°C “perfectly possible” in the Mediterranean this summer, pushing people indoors and worsening wildfire risk.

Skopje Freight Upgrade: North Macedonia has completed the rehabilitation of the Skopje rail freight bypass, ending freight trains running through the city centre and cutting transit time, with the transport ministry citing clear environmental gains from diverting heavy traffic away from the core. Mosquito-Borne Disease Alert: With extreme heat driving mosquito spread, reports warn of rising public health risks across Europe and the Balkans, including renewed West Nile virus activity and cases flagged in North Macedonia. Heatwave Watch: The WHO warns Europe may face its “deadliest weeks” as a new heatwave develops, urging stronger extreme heat preparedness—an issue that directly affects the region’s health systems and outdoor workers. Regional Energy Moves: Greece is strengthening its role as a Southeast Europe energy supplier, including fuel exports to North Macedonia via the reopened Thessaloniki–Skopje VARDAX pipeline, while the Vertical Gas Corridor expands and North Macedonia and Serbia officially join technical work for broader gas market integration. Sustainability Skills Platform: The EU-backed green transition CATALYST project has wrapped up, leaving a free learning platform with 70 courses and circular-economy and transformation training for businesses and educators.

Rail & Air Quality: North Macedonia has completed the rehabilitation of the Skopje rail freight bypass, restoring rail freight ahead of schedule and aiming to cut freight traffic through the city centre for an environmental win. Extreme Heat & Public Health: WHO warns Europe is heading into its “deadliest weeks” as a new heatwave builds, with Portugal and southern Spain forecast up to 43°C; the message is clear: heat-health action plans and cooling support are still missing in many places, including North Macedonia. Mosquito-borne Disease Risk: With hotter weather driving mosquito spread, West Nile virus is already returning across Europe; cases have been detected in Italy and also reported in Romania and North Macedonia, alongside chikungunya and dengue concerns in parts of the region. Energy Security & Corridors: The Vertical Gas Corridor is expanding fast: capacity bookings for the Greek–Bulgarian Sidirokastro interconnector exceeded expectations, and North Macedonia and Serbia have officially joined the initiative as technical preparations begin. Fertilizer Supply Shock: WTO flags that conflict around the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted urea and phosphate fertilizer trade, raising fears of higher prices and food security pressure. Regional Climate-Resilience Skills: The EU-backed CATALYST project has wrapped up with a free platform of 70 courses and tools to support green transition skills, including circular economy and sustainable business transformation.

Extreme Heat & Health: WHO warns Europe is heading into “deadliest weeks” as a new heatwave forms, with Portugal and southern Spain forecast up to 43°C and gaps in heat-health action plans leaving vulnerable groups at risk. Mosquito-Borne Disease Spread: Rising temperatures are driving renewed West Nile virus activity across Europe; cases have been detected in Italy, Romania and North Macedonia, alongside chikungunya and dengue concerns in southern destinations. Cleaner Freight Through Skopje: North Macedonia has finished rehabilitating the Skopje rail freight bypass, shifting cargo traffic away from the city centre for environmental gains and shorter transit times. Regional Energy Integration: Greece is strengthening its role as a Southeast Europe energy supplier, while the Vertical Gas Corridor expands—North Macedonia and Serbia have officially joined, with technical work now starting to connect new countries. Fertilizer Trade Disrupted: Conflict around the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting urea and phosphate fertilizer flows, raising fears of shortages and higher food prices. Digital Rights Pressure: A BIRN report says digital repression is worsening across the Western Balkans, documenting widespread online rights violations including fraud and attacks on civic actors.

Extreme Heat & Public Health: WHO warns Europe is heading into “deadliest weeks” as a new heatwave forms, with Portugal and southern Spain forecast up to 43°C and calls for stronger heat-health plans, cooling access, and climate-resilient healthcare. Mosquito-Borne Disease Spread: Hot weather is driving renewed West Nile virus activity across Europe, with cases reported in North Macedonia alongside Italy and Romania, while chikungunya and dengue risks also rise in popular holiday destinations. Vertical Gas Corridor Expansion: DESFA reports capacity bookings for the Vertical Gas Corridor exceeded expectations, and North Macedonia and Serbia have officially joined the initiative—starting technical work to connect more Balkan markets to the wider European energy system. Regional Energy Integration: Greece is strengthening its role as a Southeast Europe energy supplier, including via the Thessaloniki–Skopje VARDAX pipeline for diesel fuel flows into North Macedonia. Water & Flood Management: A report highlights efforts to reduce stormwater flooding and improve drainage and rainwater handling, including limits on recycling due to pollution concerns. Transport & Environment: New hybrid Intercity trains are set to travel via the Balkan rail corridor through North Macedonia, aiming for lower emissions and improved passenger comfort.

Energy & Infrastructure: Greece is boosting electricity, petroleum products and natural gas exports across Southeast Europe, with North Macedonia named among key diesel destinations after the Thessaloniki–Skopje VARDAX pipeline reopened. Regional Energy Integration: The “Vertical Gas Corridor” is moving fast: capacity bookings at the Greek–Bulgarian Sidirokastro interconnector exceeded expectations, and North Macedonia and Serbia have officially joined, starting technical work for wider Balkan market integration. Heat & Public Health: WHO warns Europe faces “deadliest weeks” as a new heatwave builds; North Macedonia is mentioned among countries needing stronger heat-health readiness. Mosquito-Borne Disease Risk: With hotter conditions, West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses are spreading across European holiday areas; North Macedonia is reported among places seeing infections. Food Security Pressure: WTO links fertilizer trade disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz conflict, raising risks of shortages and price hikes that can hit farm yields and food security.

Extreme Heat Watch: WHO warns Europe may face its “deadliest weeks” again, with forecasts of up to 43°C in Portugal and southern Spain and new heatwave pressure across France and beyond—raising alarms for public health plans, cooling access, and worker protection. Mosquito-borne Disease Risk: As summer temperatures climb, West Nile and other mosquito-borne viruses are spreading in European holiday hotspots; Romania and North Macedonia have reported infections, adding urgency to prevention. Energy Corridor Expansion: Greece and Bulgaria move to accelerate Southeast Europe energy market integration, while Vertical Corridor gas talks expand—North Macedonia and Serbia are joining technical work, and Slovakia and Hungary are now in the mix. Fertilizer Supply Strain: WTO data links Persian Gulf conflict disruptions to urea and phosphate fertilizer trade shocks, threatening price spikes and food security—an issue that can hit farmers across vulnerable regions. Local Climate Resilience (North Macedonia angle): A Skopje forum highlights “sustainability as a competitive advantage,” focusing on resilient institutions and greener practices. Transport & Environment: New hybrid intercity trains are set to run on Greece’s Athens–Thessaloniki line via the Balkan rail corridor through North Macedonia, aiming for better efficiency and a reduced environmental footprint. Travel Pressure & Overtourism: A travel sustainability report says more people are actively avoiding crowded hotspots to cut overtourism impacts.

Extreme Heat Watch: WHO warns Europe faces “deadliest weeks” as a new heatwave builds, with Portugal and southern Spain forecast up to 43°C and gaps in heat-health action plans leaving vulnerable groups exposed. Energy Corridor Expansion: Greece and Bulgaria push a joint strategy to speed up Southeast Europe energy market integration, while Vertical Corridor gas talks add North Macedonia and Serbia and expand technical work with more countries. Climate-Smart Learning: The CATALYST project has wrapped up with a free platform of 70 courses and practical tools for circular economy and green transition skills, aiming to connect digital learning with real-world action. Mosquito-Borne Disease Risk: As temperatures rise, West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses are spreading across European holiday hotspots; North Macedonia is among places reporting infections. Local Sustainability Dialogue: Qatar joined a Skopje forum on turning sustainability into a competitive advantage and strengthening resilient institutions. Rainwater & Flooding: A report highlights efforts to manage stormwater and reduce flooding impacts, including tenders for drainage tanks and irrigation use of collected water. Transport Decarbonization: New hybrid intercity trains are set to strengthen the Athens–Thessaloniki rail corridor, with reduced environmental footprint and improved passenger comfort. Overtourism Pressure: Travel outlets note growing demand for off-grid, less crowded destinations as overtourism concerns push travelers away from peak hotspots.

Extreme Heat Watch: WHO warns Europe is heading into “deadliest weeks” as a new heatwave builds, with Portugal and southern Spain forecast up to 43°C and health systems still strained after record June temperatures. Energy & Gas Infrastructure: Bulgaria and Greece plan a joint strategic document to speed up Southeast Europe’s energy market integration, while operators continue technical work on the Vertical Gas Corridor—now expanding toward Central Europe with Slovakia and Hungary joining talks and North Macedonia/Serbia in the mix. Fertilizer Supply Shock: WTO says Persian Gulf conflict has severely disrupted urea and phosphate fertilizer trade via the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of shortages and higher food prices—an issue that hits farmers and food security across vulnerable regions. Public Health & Mosquito Risks: Reports highlight rising mosquito-borne disease threats across European holiday hotspots, including West Nile virus and chikungunya, as hotter weather boosts spread. Local Sustainability Diplomacy: Qatar took part in a sustainability forum in Skopje focused on turning sustainability into a competitive advantage and strengthening resilient institutions. Transport & Emissions: Greece’s new hybrid Intercity trains are arriving via the Balkan rail corridor through Serbia and North Macedonia, aiming to cut environmental footprint while modernizing the Athens–Thessaloniki line. Climate-Linked Water Management: A rainwater flooding/recycling discussion notes stormwater is often discharged to sea, with recycling limited by pollution concerns and ongoing efforts to improve drainage and irrigation use.

Energy Security & Integration: Bulgaria and Greece agreed to draft a joint strategic document to speed up Southeast and Central Europe’s energy market integration, with ministers also pushing progress on the Vertical Gas Corridor and expanding it with more partners, including North Macedonia and Serbia. Heat & Public Health: WHO warns Europe faces “deadliest weeks” as another heatwave builds, with Portugal and southern Spain forecast up to 43°C; the agency stresses gaps in national heat-health plans and calls for better protection for older people, the homeless, and healthcare systems. Climate Risk in the Region: A separate WHO update notes Europe is already seeing extreme heat again, reinforcing that preparedness—not just forecasts—determines how deadly heat becomes. Mosquito-Borne Disease Watch: As temperatures rise, reports highlight West Nile and other mosquito-borne risks spreading across European holiday areas, with North Macedonia among countries reporting infections. Food System Pressure: WTO data links fertilizer trade disruptions to the Persian Gulf conflict, raising fears of fertilizer shortages, price spikes, and knock-on effects for food security. Transport & Emissions: Greece’s new hybrid Intercity trains (via the Balkan rail corridor through North Macedonia) aim to cut environmental footprint while modernizing the Athens–Thessaloniki passenger line. Sustainability Diplomacy: Qatar took part in a Skopje forum on turning sustainability into a competitive advantage and strengthening resilient institutions.