Council of Europe Development Bank grants €250,000 to support higher education in North Macedonia
The grant through the Spanish Account for Social Cohesion will fund technical assistance to prepare an investment project at the University 'Ss. Cyril and Methodius' in Skopje.
The Council of Europe Development Bank will provide a grant of €250,000 to support higher education in North Macedonia, the institution announced on 17 September 2026.
The funds will be channelled through the Spanish Account for Social Cohesion following an agreement signed with the Government of North Macedonia. The grant is earmarked for technical assistance to prepare and launch an investment project linked to the University 'Ss. Cyril and Methodius' in Skopje.
Preparation, not construction
Bank officials clarified that the money is intended for preparatory work for the future project and will not be used directly for construction works or the procurement of equipment for university faculties. The Spanish Account for Social Cohesion specifically finances technical assistance for projects of the Council of Europe Development Bank that have a clear social impact.
The Development Bank has been active in North Macedonia's education sector since 2007. With its support to date, 100 facilities for physical education have been built and 120 primary and secondary schools have been reconstructed.
According to the bank's data, roughly 122,000 pupils have benefited from those investments. In 2025 the Development Bank also approved a €20 million loan for the construction of new sports facilities at 30 schools and for renovations and energy-efficiency upgrades at school buildings across the country.
Photo: press material from the event
