The Delegation of the European Union to Macedonia is set to open a Europe House in Kumanovo after the municipality approved the allocation of premises for the project.
The Council of the Municipality of Kumanovo today adopted a decision granting the EU Delegation free use of commercial premises in the city center for a period of eight years.
The facility consists of a 48-square-meter space located in the Craftsmen’s Center in central Kumanovo, where a café previously operated.
The Europe House serving the Northeastern Planning Region has so far been based in Kriva Palanka. It was opened in February 2021 as a project of the EU Delegation aimed primarily at young people.
The center functions as a venue for meetings, education and networking, hosting debates, cultural events, workshops, exhibitions, film screenings and activities related to European Union programs.
According to official project information, hundreds of events involving thousands of young participants from the Northeastern region have been organized there over the years.
Council President Ivana Gjorgjievska stated that Kumanovo previously lacked a suitable location meeting EU requirements, which was why the center had originally been established in Kriva Palanka.
“The Europe House for the Northeastern Planning Region was located in Kriva Palanka and all activities were organized from there. Unfortunately, Kumanovo did not have premises that met the requirements, namely a location in the city center that would be more accessible to citizens, especially young people,” Gjorgjievska said.
She added that the municipality has now identified an appropriate central location and that there is interest in relocating the Europe House to Kumanovo.
“When we met with the EU Ambassador, I asked why it was in Kriva Palanka and not in Kumanovo. I was informed that they were looking for suitable premises and planned to relocate to Kumanovo as the center of the Northeastern Planning Region, which I believe is where Europe House belongs,” she added.
Council member Monika Markovska said the opening of such a center could bring significant benefits for young people in the city.
“This is an EU project already operating in several cities across the country. It offers training courses, workshops, debates and information about Erasmus projects, while young people can develop language and IT skills free of charge,” Markovska said.
According to her, the Europe House could become a place where young people develop ideas, acquire new knowledge and gain easier access to opportunities for education, volunteering and international cooperation.
“Perhaps most importantly, young people will feel that something useful and modern is happening here. Such a space may be a small but important investment in the future because the greatest value a city can create is encouraging people to stay, work and contribute locally,” Markovska emphasized.
With this decision, Kumanovo is expected to receive its first Europe House, which would serve as a new regional center for youth activities, education and the promotion of European programs in the Northeastern Planning Region.