Macedonian Institute for Integration - MII is a non-for-profit organisation from the Republic of Macedonia which operates in Macedonia (Skopje) and Belgium (Brussels). The principle sectors of acting are: promoting the Republic of Macedonia, consultancy on EU affaires, lobbying and monitoring, as well as support of Macedonian governmental, non-governmental and business stakeholders. The services of MII are offered to interested organisations, physical persons, companies or governmental institutions of the Republic of Macedonia.

Already today, there are several EU funds available for applicants from the Republic of Macedonia. The MII acts as a One-Stop-Shop from interested applicants in Macedonia. We are not only informing about funding possibilities, but help applicants through the European bureaucracy as well as helping to find necessary partner from other EU countries. In the sector of EU funds MII is establishing a network towards the EU officials, so that mutual information is ensured.

• Consultancy for Macedonian Affairs

With Macedonia‘s growing economic importance, the demand for consultancy on Macedonian affairs is growing. The Macedonian Institute for Integration acts as the first address for EU people having special needs in Macedonia, when these needs do not easily fall under the competencies of the Investment Agency. We bring in contact the interested Belgian and Macedonian parties acting as intermediaries, defending the interests of each part. Our consulting services are in the three official languages of the EU, thus English, French and German.

• Platform for events

As many other foundations and centres in Brussels (as the British Council, the German political foundations like the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung et al.) the MII acts as a platform for different formats of events with a Macedonian background. These events are bringing together members of the Macedonian government, its authorities or business world with EU decision makers and also other relevant EU actors in Brussels. The events highlight specific Macedonian problems, chances, politics or cultural issues and associate them with EU issues.

• Platform for publications

The MII is a platform for publications, acting as editor or publisher of works on Macedonian issues, but also as editor of regular newsletters and policy newsletters, which are directed towards Macedonian recipients on one hand and towards the EU actors and community on the other.

• Infrastructure for interested parties

Macedonian regional entities, Macedonian companies, business associations or organizations will sooner or later need a representation in Brussels. Setting up representative offices on their own or hiring professional lobbying agencies will be both costly and at the beginning unnecessary investment. As MII is already established in Brussels we avoid all the barriers for establishing any kind of organization from Macedonia as well as avoiding the translation, licence and registration procedures. The Macedonian Institute for Integration acts as a supplier of infrastructure and manpower, adequate to the needs of Macedonian entities. By this, interested parties from Macedonia could "hire" for a desired period of time full serviced office space and infrastructure as well as the manpower of EU and MII experts if needed. We can have the first-hand information passing the difficulties that some companies can have in order to reach the west European market. MII is the roof, under which Macedonian actors could work on their EU affairs project.

• Training of EU experts

The Macedonian Institute for Integration plans to run an exchange programme, bringing young Macedonian officials or students for a period of time to Brussels and train them in the daily work of EU affairs. By this, the competence within Macedonia for European Union affairs will grow, and help decreasing the need for external assistance. The trainings could be held either in Brussels or Macedonia.

• Branding the name of Macedonia in Brussels

With an active Macedonian Institute for Integration, the Republic of Macedonia creates a brand in the heart of Brussels. The MII would soon be known for its expertise in Macedonian and EU affairs in Brussels due to its events and publications. By this brand the image of Macedonia in the heart of EU decision making is for the benefit of Macedonia‘s EU integration process.

• Promoting Macedonian Culture and Tourism