News
North Macedonia receives €250 000 grant for higher education from the CEB’s Spanish Social Cohesion Account
16 September 2026
Skopje – North Macedonia marked an important milestone in higher education investment with the announcement of Spain’s €250 000 grant to its Spanish Social Cohesion Account with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).
The grant agreement was signed during a meeting bringing together the Minister of Education and Science of North Macedonia, Dr. Vesna Janevska, the Ambassador of Spain to North Macedonia, H.E. Rafael Soriano Ortiz, and the CEB Vice-Governor for Target Group Countries, Tomáš Boček, underscoring the shared commitment of the three partners to investing in quality education infrastructure and human capital development.
The grant will provide targeted technical assistance to help prepare and launch an investment project in favour of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM) in Skopje, the largest public university in North Macedonia. The grant builds on the long-standing partnership between the CEB and North Macedonia in the education sector and reflects the Bank’s continued commitment to supporting social infrastructure that promotes inclusion and sustainable development.
Speaking on the occasion, the partners reaffirmed the importance of investing in higher education as a driver of innovation, economic competitiveness and social cohesion.
Minister Janevska said: “Investments in educational infrastructure constitute an investment in the future of our education system and, ultimately, in the future of our country. We are therefore particularly grateful for the support provided by the CEB and Spain towards the implementation of this important infrastructure project, which concerns our country’s first and biggest public university. The grant represents significant support that will enable us to commence the necessary activities at the earliest possible stage and thereby create the conditions for the timely and efficient completion of the investment project.”
Ambassador Soriano Ortiz said: “The technical assistance that will be financed by this Spanish grant through the Council of Europe Development Bank will enable North Macedonia to prepare and implement a higher education infrastructure project at UKIM. Investing in education is a priority and a strategic choice.”
Vice-Governor Boček said: “Investing in higher education means investing in people, skills and opportunities. Through this grant, made possible by the generous support of Spain, we enable the creation of a better learning environment in a leading public university and build on our successful partnership with North Macedonia in favour of children and youth across the country.”
The CEB’s long-standing support to North Macedonia’s education sector began in 2007 and has already enabled the construction of 100 physical education facilities and the rehabilitation of 120 primary and secondary schools, benefiting around 122 000 pupils. In 2025, the CEB approved a €20 million loan to finance new sports facilities in 30 further schools and expand school rehabilitation and energy-efficiency investments nationwide.
The Spanish Social Cohesion Account (SCA) provides grants for technical assistance in support of CEB projects with a strong social impact. Since its establishment, it has supported 30 activities in 12 countries, including projects in education, energy efficiency, social infrastructure, health and social care, and support for displaced people, delivering tangible improvements for communities and vulnerable groups.
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) is a multilateral development bank with an exclusively social mandate from its 43 member countries. The CEB finances investment projects and provides technical assistance in social sectors such as education, health and affordable housing, while focusing on the needs of vulnerable people, as well as on the social dimensions of climate change and the environment. Borrowers include governments, local and regional authorities, public and private banks, non-profit organisations and others. The CEB, which has a triple-A credit rating, funds itself through international capital markets. In addition, the CEB receives funds from donors to complement its activities.