AI regulation in North Macedonia (2026)

North Macedonia has no dedicated AI law at the national level. The GDPR-aligned Law on Personal Data Protection addresses automated decision-making but is not AI-specific, and a working group established in 2021 by the Macedonian Fund for Innovation and Technology Development (FITD) to draft a National AI Strategy has produced no formal strategy document.

On 8 May 2026, North Macedonia's Justice Minister signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, making it the 20th signatory to this first-ever international legally binding AI treaty. The Convention has not yet been ratified domestically.

Adopted by the government in October 2025, the SMART/MK 2030 strategy provides a digital transformation framework aligned with EU Digital Europe Programme priorities across four pillars: modern ICT infrastructure, digital skills, e-governance, and digital transformation of businesses and innovation, with AI embedded as a cross-cutting priority.

In October 2025 North Macedonia launched 'Vezilka', its first National Centre for Artificial Intelligence, a €6 million initiative co-funded by the EU through Horizon Europe and the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. Priority application domains include Macedonian-language AI models, healthcare, energy, public administration, and agriculture.

As an EU candidate country, North Macedonia is expected to transpose and align with the EU AI Act as part of accession requirements. Policy analysts note that without legal and institutional reforms to harmonise with EU AI standards, the country risks regulatory fragmentation and potential delays in the accession process.

Launched in early 2025, INNOFEIT is North Macedonia's European Digital Innovation Hub, providing SMEs and public institutions with AI testing, prototyping, digital-twin, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing services, and connecting national actors with the broader EU AI Factory network.