Biljana Peeva-Gjurikj, Operations Director for Member Representation and Networking

The fight against corruption is an issue that has been discussed and acted upon for thirty-five years, yet corruption remains at a high level, as confirmed by formal, official documents.

This issue is part of the Economic Chamber's broader engagement in tackling the shadow economy and upholding the rule of law—prerequisites for increased investment and economic growth—since the business community widely recognizes that corruption represents one of the primary obstacles to a nation's development.

The ECNM stands ready to support an intensified fight against corruption and to collaborate with institutions at all levels. To that end, in 2024, the Chamber signed a cooperation agreement with Transparency International Macedonia and a memorandum with the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, solidifying collaboration among the business community, public institutions, and civil society organizations to create a synergy for societal transformation.

The critical factors influencing the scale of the informal economy include the country's level of economic development, the tax burden, parafiscal charges, overregulation of the formal economy, corruption levels, public trust in the civil service, and tax morale—and it is within these areas that solutions must be found.

One key solution lies in the digitalization of processes—particularly in public procurement—as well as streamlining procedures for issuing the various permits, licenses, and documents that state institutions provide to businesses to ensure their smooth operation.

State efforts must be scaled up and directed toward mechanisms designed to dismantle the shadow economy, rather than introducing new burdens on companies that are predominantly borne by taxpayers already operating on the compliant, formal list.

Link to the statement: https://youtube.com/shorts/qmS0P0RLsdU