The main focus of the 'EU for SME Development Project' is to develop a new national SME Strategy 2025-2030, to set up an effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanism for the implementation of the SME Strategy, and to provide capacity building to public administration, SMEs, business associations, NGOs and other institutions and bodies for better utilisation of EU funds.

The main beneficiary is the Ministry of Economy and Labour of the Republic of North Macedonia (MoE).

Equal opportunities and cross-cutting issues will be a priority for this project from its initial recruitment of staff and experts, taking into account gender issues. It will be used as a platform to raise awareness about and promote the inclusion of relevant cross-cutting issues relating to gender, youth, minorities and persons with disabilities. The dimension of minority inclusion, equal opportunity and gender equality, in particular, will be integrated into all levels of the project and will be a joint responsibility of the Contractor and the main beneficiary. This will contribute to establishing a suitable foundation for mainstreaming cross-cutting issues, especially gender equality, in the future.

The global objective is to develop an SME policy framework in line with EU strategic priorities and to increase the capacities of public administration to better develop programmes and measures for SME development

The specific objectives are:

• To develop a national SME Strategy 2025-2030 and a corresponding Action Plan in line with EU strategic priorities and good EU practices.
• To support public and private stakeholders in designing programmes and instruments/measures for the implementation of the SME Strategy and Action Plan.
• To set up the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanism for implementation of the SME Strategy.
• To increase the capacity of public bodies in charge of formulating, coordinating, and implementing public policy measures on SME policy.
• To improve access to the EU programmes for SMEs by capacity building of relevant stakeholders and development of systematic support structures.

• SME strategy 2025-2030 and Action Plan for implementation of the SME strategy 2025-2030.
• Set of implementing measures for the SME strategy 2025-2026.
• Functional M&E system for the SME Strategy 2025-2030.
• Public and private stakeholders acquired skills to access EU programmes for SMEs.