By Biljana Jordanovska
North Macedonia, a NATO member since 2020 and an EU candidate country since 2005, is entering a period of growing economic uncertainty amid intensifying global instability. As a small, import-dependent economy in a historically volatile region, the country is particularly exposed to external shocks — including the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the prolonged effects of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Rising prices and deepening economic pressure are no longer abstract risks. They are already being felt by citizens across the country, prompting renewed calls for decisive and responsible policymaking.
Speaking on the TV program 24 Analysis, Xhabir Deralla, President of CIVIL – Center for Freedom, warned that this is not a moment for political calculation or populist messaging, but for concrete measures and institutional responsibility.
“It is important at this moment to remain constructive, even as the situation escalates day by day. We must call on those in positions of responsibility to move beyond populism and take real steps that can at least mitigate the effects of this crisis,” Deralla stated.
The economic consequences of global conflicts are cascading across borders. Energy markets, supply chains, and inflation trends remain tightly interconnected, with particularly strong effects on smaller and more vulnerable economies such as North Macedonia’s. The current war involving Iran is not an isolated event, but part of a broader pattern of instability shaping global economic conditions.
At the same time, Russia’s war against Ukraine — now in its fifth year — continues to influence energy prices, security dynamics, and economic uncertainty across Europe.
In this context, Deralla emphasized that governance and political responsibility are critical. He warned that necessary economic responses risk being overshadowed by nationalist-populist narratives and short-term political calculations, potentially delaying effective action and undermining public trust.
“Whatever measures any government takes will have negative effects. But that does not mean institutions should stand aside. On the contrary, now is the moment for concrete steps,” he stressed.
According to Deralla, the country has sufficient expert capacity to design appropriate responses, including economists and policy professionals within government and coalition structures. However, he underscored that such expertise must be matched by political will.
“The government and its partners have the knowledge and resources. What is needed is to abandon populism and adopt measures that can at least mitigate the impact of the crisis,” he said.
Deralla also warned that the current crisis should not be viewed in isolation. Instead, it forms part of a broader sequence of global disruptions that are likely to continue.
“This is not the only crisis. Others will follow. Today it is Iran — tomorrow it may be something else. Existing conflicts continue to have a strong impact, and we must not ignore them,” he noted.
In response, he called for broader social coordination and consensus among all relevant actors.
“We have an obligation — as public intellectuals, media, civil society, government, and opposition — to sit at the same table and develop strategies for the period that lies ahead,” Deralla emphasized.
He further warned that the country is entering a period of instability that could deepen if timely and adequate measures are not adopted.
“We are entering a period of chaos. If we do nothing, that chaos will overwhelm us from the very beginning,” he said.
Finally, Deralla stressed the importance of solidarity and innovation in policymaking, calling for a more creative and cooperative approach to managing future challenges — one that could potentially serve as an example beyond the country’s borders.
Without a shift from populist rhetoric to evidence-based policymaking, coordination, and social solidarity, North Macedonia risks facing not only economic strain but also a broader erosion of stability and democratic resilience.
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