Macedonia

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Macedonia, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial 

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS 

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws 

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2. 

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Macedonia, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120. 

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The United States does not have a tax treaty with Macedonia. For more information about double taxation issues, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance. 

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122.  Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Macedonia at 37 out of 100 (98th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  corrupt).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations

Articles

The US State Department's page on MACEDONIA may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AUTHORITIES IN NORTH MACEDONIA ARE TIGHTENING CERTAIN CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) RELATED RESTRICTIONS DUE TO AN INCREASE IN INFECTION RATES.  OFFICIALS HAD OPENED THE COUNTRY'S LAND BORDERS AND PERMITTED INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO RESUME, AND MOST BUSINESSES AND FACILITIES ARE PERMITTED TO RESUME OPERATIONS PROVIDED THEY IMPLEMENT CERTAIN HYGIENE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES.   AUTHORITIES COULD EXTEND, EASE, OR OTHERWISE AMEND ANY RESTRICTIONS WITH LITTLE TO NO NOTICE, DEPENDING ON DISEASE ACTIVITY OVER THE COMING WEEKS.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu. 

If you are traveling to Macedonia on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here. 

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic.

The overall threat of terrorism in Macedonia is low.  The threat of terrorism is low in Macedonia. Authorities have recently maintained steady ratings based on an official national terror threat level system. Foreign governments have/have not issued warnings regarding terror threats in country. No specific threats exist, though Macedonia must currently be considered a potential target. 

Islamist extremists - both radicalized locals and foreign nationals - likely pose the greatest threat to Macedonia. While major terror-related incidents in the country have not occurred, plots by so-called "lone-wolves" against soft targets cannot be ruled out. Islamist extremist groups reportedly see Macedonia as a source of potential recruits. 

Nationalist groups operate in Macedonia and have carried out attacks. Such groups typically target government or security force personnel and facilities. Common tactics employed in such attacks include crude bombings and armed assaults. 

Macedonia is a multiparty parliamentary republic in which elections take place every four years under normal conditions. The current administration is adequately stable, though the political situation has been volatile through 2016 as a change in government took place in the wake of corruption scandals encompassing the previous administration. Current challenges faced by the administration are typical for the region: social and economic reform, immigration (as the country is situated in the "Balkan Route" used by migrants and refugees to enter Europe), and regional ethnic tensions between Macedonians and the large Albanian minority all of which could become destabilizing for Macedonian administration. Macedonia is the only republic in the former Yugoslavia which does not have border disputes with its neighbors, however ongoing disagreements with Greece over the Macedonian state's name have had adverse effects for Macedonia with regards to integrating further with the West, a challenge which does make international geopolitical instability more possible, though still unlikely in the short to medium-term.

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities, prior to practicing or operating a business. Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. 

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

  • North Macedonia’s customs authorities enforce strict regulations that require special licenses or permits for the exportation of items deemed to be of historical value or significance. Taking such items out of North Macedonia without the appropriate government-issued permit can result in arrest, monetary fines, and prison sentences.
  • Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as having military or security interest may result in problems with authorities. Visitors should comply with “no photography” signs. If you are in doubt, ask for permission before taking photographs.
  • While larger stores and restaurants accept credit cards, it is recommend to have cash in local currency (denar) for purchases in small establishments.
  • Failure to declare currency exceeding 10,000 euros, or the equivalent, may result in its confiscation and a court proceeding. Penalties typically include a fine and a percentage of the undeclared amount.

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in North Macedonia. Vandals attacked an LGBTI center several times in the last five years, and in June 2019, a prominent activist for the rights of LGBTI people was chased, pulled from a car, and violently assaulted in Skopje. We advise exercising caution when attending LGBTI events.