13 March 2026, Skopje, North Macedonia

The Municipality of Gjorche Petrov marked an important milestone in its quality management journey today, as Director Handjiska Trendafilova handed over the CAF “Effective User” Certificate to Mayor Aleksandar Stojkovski, recognising the municipality’s strong and sustained commitment to excellence in public administration.

The event addresses by Mayor Aleksandar Stojkovski, Director Maja Handjiska Trendafilova, Emilija Georgieva Gjoshevski, National Coordinator for Quality Management, and Thomas Prorok (KDZ Austria), who all underlined the importance of quality management as a driver of stronger institutions, better services, and greater trust between public administrations and citizens.

The certification process was conducted by ReSPA’s Regional Quality Management Centre (RQMC), confirming the Municipality of Gjorche Petrov as an institution that has demonstrated continuity, institutional maturity, and a strategic commitment to improvement.

By receiving this label, the Municipality of Gjorche Petrov joins a growing community of institutions that are transforming quality standards into concrete results for citizens. The recognition reflects not only technical achievement, but also leadership, vision, and the determination to build an administration that is transparent, accountable, and truly citizen-oriented.

As Director Handjiska Trendafilova emphasised,“This label is a public recognition of quality, transparency, and citizen-oriented administration.” Her message highlighted the broader significance of the award: every investment in quality management is also an investment in public trust, stronger governance, and more responsive institutions.

The Municipality’s ISO 9001:2015 certification, along with the completion of CAF cycles in 2016 and 2024, further confirms its long-term and systematic approach to governance reform and service delivery. These achievements demonstrate that institutional excellence is built through commitment, consistency, and the shared efforts of dedicated teams.

ReSPA extends its sincere appreciation to EFAC experts Julijana Nikolovska and Aleksandra Gichevska, as well as to Nadica Mushjan for her dedicated coordination within the Municipality. Special thanks also go to Thomas Prorok, Phili Parzer and Aleksandra Schantl from KDZ, and expert Igor Markovski for their valuable support through the BACID III project. ReSPA also warmly acknowledges Emilija Georgieva Gjoshevski, National CAF Correspondent for North Macedonia, for her important contribution to this process.

Congratulations to Mayor Aleksandar Stojkovski and the entire team of the Municipality of Gjorche Petrov for this well-deserved recognition. Their achievement stands as an inspiring example of how committed leadership and a culture of quality can help shape modern, effective, and citizen-oriented local government.