Balgarianovinite.com The reconstruction of the Universal Hall in Skopje, which burned down in 2024, must be completed by the end of 2027, as it is one of the key venues needed for the European Capital of Culture – Skopje 2028 initiative, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Culture and Tourism Minister Zoran Ljutkov, and Skopje Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski said during a visit to the site on Monday.
The investment is being made by the State, with around EUR 20 million secured through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the construction of the hall, Ljutkov said.
According to him, the hall will retain its original appearance, as the steel structure was not affected by the fire, a fact confirmed by additional tests. The project for the hall was also presented, with the building to be constructed “using modern materials” and enhanced sound insulation, as it is located in close proximity to residential buildings.
“I am grateful, on my own behalf and on behalf of the citizens of the city of Skopje, that after all these problems in the past, this facility will finally acquire a proper appearance. From what I saw and what the designer presented, it will be truly magnificent. Let us complete it and then all of us together enjoy the cultural events that will be organised here,” Mickoski said.
The Universal Hall in Skopje is a copy of the building of the former circus in Sofia and is one of the donations the capital of North Macedonia received after the devastating 1963 earthquake.
In September 2021, renovation of the hall began under the previous mayor of Skopje, Petre Shilegov, with funds provided by the government of North Macedonia. However, after his successor Danela Arsovska took office, construction works were halted on the grounds that the project did not guarantee user safety. Arsovska said work would resume after changes were made to the design. As a result, renovation of the hall, considered a symbol of the city, was suspended for two years.
In September 2023, the government of North Macedonia took over the reconstruction of the Universal Hall from the city authorities after the proposal was approved by the City Council. With this decision, responsibility for reconstruction, expansion and upgrading of the hall was transferred to the Culture Ministry.
A fire that broke out in April 2024 left only the metal structure of the hall intact. After the parliamentary elections in May the same year, responsibility for the reconstruction was taken over by the newly established Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the government led by the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE).
Skopje was designated in 2023 as a future “European Capital of Culture” for 2028. Reconstruction of Skopje’s Universal Hall to Be Completed by End of 2027 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-04-27 13:18:38 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law