City of Skopje
The Mayor of Skopje, Orce Gjorgjievski, said from Israel that the capital must become more modern, more functional, and better prepared to handle crisis situations, emphasizing that the visit to the MUNI EXPO 2026 conference aims to bring concrete solutions that will improve the lives of citizens.
He stressed that he came to Israel with the intention of learning from the experiences of local authorities gained in real and complex circumstances, adding that his greatest interest is in better coordination between institutions, crisis management, smart technologies, traffic, public safety, waste management, and water resources.
According to Gjorgjievski, Israeli cities show that local government must be prepared before a crisis occurs, not improvise when it is already too late. As the capital, he said, Skopje must build a system that can quickly respond to fires, natural disasters, pollution, traffic collapses, and cyber threats.
Speaking about the future of European cities, the mayor assessed that the biggest challenges will be mobility, pollution, infrastructure, security, and quality of life. According to him, the goal is for Skopje to become a cleaner, greener, and better-organized city.
"I do not believe in big words without implementation. I believe in order, work, and concrete results," Gjorgjievski stated.
He did not rule out the possibility of Skopje twinning with an Israeli city, emphasizing that such cooperation should be aimed at exchanging experiences, joint projects, and applying successful practices in the fields of innovation, security, water management, and smart technologies.
Referring to his work as mayor, Gjorgjievski said that the biggest challenge after taking office was restoring order and trust in institutions, assessing that Skopje is a complex system with different needs and expectations.
He stressed that Skopje has great potential, natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and hospitality, but in the coming period, the priorities will be cleaner streets, better public transport, more greenery, and higher quality infrastructure.
In the interview with the Jerusalem Post, he also addressed relations between Macedonia and Israel, assessing that there is significant room for deepening cooperation between cities, especially in the areas of digital services, smart traffic management, energy efficiency, and innovation.
Gjorgjievski also condemned any form of anti-Semitism, referring to the recent arson attempt at the Jewish Cultural Center and Synagogue in Skopje. He said that such attacks are a blow to the values of the city and that Skopje must remain a place where all citizens feel safe and equal.
Finally, the mayor stated that his goal is that after the end of his term, citizens can say that Skopje has again become a city of order, dignity, and clear direction.
"I do not want to be remembered for big words, but for work that people will feel – a cleaner city, better public transport, well-maintained parks, greater security, and institutions closer to citizens," Gjorgjievski said.
