Construction of a sports hall at PS “Kuzman Josifovski Pitu” in the Municipality of Kisela Voda

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Funding has been allocated for the planned construction of a sports hall at Kuzman Josifovski Pitu School, in line with the municipal programme. The project is being implemented jointly by the municipality and the Ministry of Education and Science. The Government holds no documentation on the project and has no financial involvement. The exact amount allocated for this measure is unknown to us.

Meeting with the Mayor of the Municipality, Beti Stamenkoska-Trajkoska (18 September, 3 Eurothink team members and the Mayor), Meeting with Svetlana Kolarić, lead candidate for the Municipal Council (16 July, 2 Eurothink team members and the lead candidate), Meetings with youth organisations (Youth Educational Forum – 22 September, 5 participants; Skopje Volunteer Centre – 7 July, 4 participants; Centre for Youth Activism – KRiK – 1 July, 14 participants), Field visit to the sports hall by the Eurothink team, responses to freedom of information requests submitted to: the Municipality of Kisela Voda, the Ministry of Education and Science, and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia.

The Municipality has not conducted any public procurement procedure, and the Centre for Public Procurement and General Affairs does not hold any related documentation. The public procurement procedures were carried out through the Ministry of Education and Science.

Responses to freedom of information requests submitted to the Municipality of Kisela Voda and the Ministry of Education and Science; meeting with the Mayor of Kisela Voda held on 18 September and the corresponding meeting minutes; meeting with the lead candidate for the Municipal Council held on 16 July.

After the Municipality of Kisela Voda responded that it did not hold documentation concerning the permits and staffing arrangements, Eurothink submitted request for public information requests to the Ministry of Education and Science, which provided all the necessary information. Based on the Ministry’s responses, it was established that all prerequisites and conditions for implementing the measure have been met.

Responses to submitted request for public information to the Ministry of Education and Science; the Municipality of Kisela Voda’s 2026 report.

Construction of the sports hall is approximately 80% complete and nearing completion. However, the exact completion date is not yet known. The company responsible for the project is GRANIT AD Skopje. The facility is not yet fully visible from the outside, as it has not been opened for use. Supervision of the project was also entrusted to EURO CONSULTING DOO

Field visit by the Eurothink team; photographs of the sports hall; response to a freedom of information request submitted to the Municipality of Kisela Voda; cooperation agreements with the contractor and the supervising company, including annexes and supporting documents; discussion with the youth organisation Youth Educational Forum (22 September, 5 participants).

The Municipality has published its 2026 progress report on its website, stating that work is underway on the sports hall at Kuzman Josifovski Pitu School. However, the report provides no information on the funds planned or spent to date. During a meeting with the Mayor, it confirmed this status of the monitored measure.

The 2026 progress report published on the Municipality’s website (https://opstinakiselavoda.gov.mk/) and in the municipal news section on 1 April 2026.

Eurothink enjoyed excellent cooperation with the Municipality and its department responsible for responding to freedom of information requests. All submitted requests were answered within the statutory 30-day deadline. The responses were provided by email, as requested, and the Municipality did not charge any fees for the information supplied.

Minutes of the meeting with the Mayor held on 18 September; meeting with the officials responsible for handling freedom of information requests, also held on 18 September; responses to all freedom of information requests; https://eurothink.mk/2026/09/22/%d1%81%d0%be%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%be-%d0%b3%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b4%d0%be%d0%bd%d0%b0%d1%87%d0%b0%d0%bb%d0%bd%d0%b8%d1%87%d0%ba%d0%b0%d1%82%d0%b0-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%be%d0%bf%d1%88/

Eurothink held one meeting with the lead candidate on the municipal council list and another with the Mayor, during which the monitoring measures and their implementation were discussed. Both meetings were promptly accepted following Eurothink’s initial invitations. As a demonstration of their commitment to cooperation throughout the project, Eurothink and the Municipality signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The Mayor expressed her willingness to continue working with the Eurothink team on further project activities in Kisela Voda

Minutes and photographs of the meeting with the Mayor held on 18 September; photographs of the meeting with the lead candidate on the municipal council list held on 16 July; signed Memorandum of Cooperation with the Mayor of Kisela Voda; https://eurothink.mk/2026/09/22/%d1%81%d0%be%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%be-%d0%b3%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b4%d0%be%d0%bd%d0%b0%d1%87%d0%b0%d0%bb%d0%bd%d0%b8%d1%87%d0%ba%d0%b0%d1%82%d0%b0-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%be%d0%bf%d1%88/ (website publication).

We maintain regular communication and hold meetings, and the local government consistently responds to freedom of information requests. The Mayor also commented on urban development during an interview with 360 Degrees.

Responses to Request for public information submitted to the Municipality and the Ministry of Education and Science

The Eurothink team submitted a request for public information to the Municipality of Kisela Voda, which replied that it did not hold the requested information and referred the matter to the Department of Communal Affairs, Infrastructure, Traffic and Environmental Protection. The Department likewise stated that the matter fell outside its remit and directed Eurothink to the Ministry of Education and Science. However, the documentation provided by the Ministry did not include a response to this request.

Responses to requests for public information submitted to the Municipality and the Ministry of Education and Science.

No public gatherings specifically related to this measure have been reported. We organise meetings and forums with youth civil society organisations registered within the Municipality. To date, three meetings have been held with KRIK, the Volunteer Centre Skopje, and the Youth Educational Forum (MOF) in July and September 2026, with a total of 23 participants.

Minutes of meetings with youth organisations (KRIK on 1 July, with 14 participants; Volunteer Centre Skopje (VCS) on 7 July, with 4 participants; and the Youth Educational Forum (MOF) on 22 September, with 5 participants); photographs of the meetings; publications on Eurothink’s website; attendance lists.
https://eurothink.mk/2026/07/01/%d1%81%d0%be%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%ba-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%b5%d0%b2%d1%80%d0%be%d1%82%d0%b8%d0%bd%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%be-%d0%bc%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b4%d0%b8%d0%bd%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b8%d0%be%d1%82-%d1%86/
https://eurothink.mk/2026/07/07/%d1%81%d0%be%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%ba-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%b5%d0%b2%d1%80%d0%be%d1%82%d0%b8%d0%bd%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%be-%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%bb%d0%be%d0%bd%d1%82%d0%b5%d1%80%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b8-%d1%86/

We have no information regarding any opportunities for citizens to participate electronically in the implementation of the sports hall project at Kuzman Josifovski Pitu School.

Citizens did not participate electronically through mobile applications in relation to the construction of the sports hall. The project was developed as part of the Municipality of Kisela Voda’s programme and was intended to be implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science. Eurothink obtained all relevant documentation, including meeting minutes, the Official Gazette, the agreement between the parties, and the construction contract.
The municipality’s website offers a “Ask the Mayor” feature. Municipal officials also noted that citizens sometimes communicate directly with the municipality and the Mayor through social media. However, no such electronic participation or communication took place in relation to this particular measure.

Based on the response to the freedom of information request, we conclude that the municipality holds open days at least once a month, although these are organised several times a month in practice. To accommodate residents’ needs, the municipality usually schedules these sessions on Saturdays. The response also mentions field meetings with the Mayor, as well as opportunities for residents to communicate electronically through the municipality’s website and social media channels.

Response to request for public information, web page of the Municipality, social media