Municipality of Struga

The Municipality of Struga is a unit of local self-government established in accordance with the Law on Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. It operates within the national legal and administrative framework and exercises competencies in the areas of local economic development, education, social protection, culture, environmental protection, urban planning, public services, and digitalization of municipal services.

The Municipality is located in the southwestern region of the Republic of North Macedonia, in the Ohrid–Struga planning region, and has a strategically significant geographical position due to its proximity to Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage site, and its direct border with the Republic of Albania. This position enables active participation in regional development initiatives and cross-border cooperation programmes supported by the European Union.

The municipal administration of Struga is structured into professional departments and units responsible for administrative, legal, financial, and technical matters, including units for information technology, local economic development, strategic planning, and international and EU-funded project implementation. The Municipality applies national public administration regulations and internal procedures ensuring transparency, accountability, legality, and efficiency in decision-making and service delivery.

The Municipality of Struga has demonstrated institutional capacity and experience in participating in and implementing projects financed by the European Union and other international donors, including programmes such as IPA Cross-Border Cooperation, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, and other sectoral EU instruments. The Municipality ensures compliance with applicable financial management, procurement, reporting, and monitoring rules in accordance with national legislation and EU requirements.

Digital transformation and modernization of public administration represent a strategic priority for the Municipality of Struga. In this context, the Municipality is committed to the introduction and improvement of digital public services, interoperability of information systems, data-driven decision-making, cybersecurity awareness, and capacity building of municipal staff in the field of digital skills. The Municipality actively supports initiatives aligned with the objectives of the Digital Europe Programme, particularly in the areas of advanced digital skills, deployment of digital solutions, artificial intelligence, cloud services, data governance, and digital inclusion.

Furthermore, the Municipality of Struga promotes cooperation with public institutions, educational organizations, research entities, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders at local, national, and European level, with the aim of strengthening institutional capacities and contributing to the implementation of EU digital policies and standards.

Through strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and effective administrative management, the Municipality of Struga seeks to enhance the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of public services, support digital innovation at the local level, and contribute to the broader European digital transition.