North Macedonia Takes First Steps Toward AI Governance
By Suad Seferi ·
SKOPJE — Artificial intelligence is steadily moving from research labs and private businesses into government offices across Europe. North Macedonia is no exception. While the country has yet to introduce dedicated legislation governing artificial intelligence, a series of recent policy developments suggests that AI is becoming an increasingly important part of its digital transformation agenda. The adoption of the SMART/MK 2030 ICT Development Strategy, alongside North Macedonia's decision to sign the Council of Europe's Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, signals a growing recognition that AI is no longer simply an innovation issue but also one of governance. North Macedonia The developments come as governments across Europe race to balance technological innovation with legal safeguards. The European Union's AI Act, which entered into force in 2024 and is being phased in over the coming years, is already influencing policymakers well beyond the EU's borders. For candidate countries such as North Macedonia, regulatory alignment is expected to become part of the broader accession process. That raises a practical question for public institutions: how prepared are they for the next stage of AI adoption? Artificial intelligence has already found its way into everyday administrative work. Civil servants, educators, researchers and legal professionals increasingly rely on generative AI systems to draft documents, summarize lengthy reports, translate text and assist with research. Much of that adoption has happened organically, often without institution-wide guidance or formal internal policies. Experts say that gap between technology adoption and institutional governance is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Unlike conventional software, generative AI systems introduce new legal and operational questions. They can produce inaccurate information with convincing confidence, process sensitive data, or influence administrative decisions without providing transparent reasoning. Those risks become significantly more important when AI is used inside public institutions, where decisions directly affect citizens. Rather than focusing solely on the technology itself, governments across Europe are increasingly concentrating on governance — the rules, oversight mechanisms and accountability structures surrounding AI deployment. North Macedonia's SMART/MK 2030 strategy reflects this broader direction. Although the document is primarily a national roadmap for digital development, it identifies artificial intelligence as one of the technologies expected to drive innovation, economic competitiveness and modernization of public services over the coming years. European Union The country's international commitments point in a similar direction. In May 2026, North Macedonia became one of the signatories to the Council of Europe's AI Convention, the first legally binding international treaty dedicated specifically to artificial intelligence. The convention establishes principles designed to ensure that AI systems respect human rights, democratic values and the rule of law, while leaving individual countries responsible for implementing those principles through domestic legislation and public policy. Taken together, these developments do not amount to a national AI law. They do, however, indicate that AI governance is moving higher on the government's policy agenda. The experience of other European countries offers an indication of what may follow. Across the region, governments are developing guidance on the use of AI within public administration, introducing procurement requirements for AI systems, strengthening oversight of high-risk applications and investing in AI literacy for public employees. The objective is not simply to encourage adoption but to ensure that AI can be deployed responsibly in areas where transparency and public trust are essential. For North Macedonia, many of the immediate challenges are likely to be organisational rather than technological. Public institutions will need to understand where AI tools are already being used, establish internal guidance for employees, strengthen data governance and ensure that human oversight remains central to administrative decision-making. Questions surrounding procurement, cybersecurity, personal data protection and accountability are expected to become increasingly important as AI systems become more capable and more widely available. Legal specialists also point out that North Macedonia is unlikely to develop its future regulatory approach in isolation. As an EU candidate country, alignment with European legislation will remain an important consideration, particularly in areas affecting digital services, data governance and emerging technologies. EU Artificial Intelligence Act That does not necessarily mean replicating every aspect of the EU AI Act. It does, however, suggest that public institutions and businesses operating in North Macedonia should begin familiarising themselves with European AI standards well before they become formal legal requirements. For businesses supplying digital services to government, the implications could be equally significant. Future procurement processes may increasingly require evidence of transparency, security, risk management and compliance with recognised AI governance principles. Similar expectations are already beginning to emerge across several European jurisdictions. The debate is also expanding beyond compliance. Governments across Europe are increasingly recognising that successful AI adoption depends as much on institutional capacity as it does on technical capability. AI literacy, leadership, procurement expertise and clear governance frameworks are becoming essential components of digital transformation strategies. North Macedonia's challenge therefore extends beyond introducing new technologies into public administration. It is about ensuri…