The European Union has called on North Macedonia to undertake comprehensive reforms in its judicial system, considering that it has reached a “critical point” after numerous scandals related to the release of many corrupt officials from criminal prosecution during the tenure of former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, the aging of cases, and the release of some of them from prison.
The EU Ambassador to Skopje, David Geer, presented on Tuesday 40 measures from a group of European experts, which, he said, should be an immediate priority for Macedonian authorities, as well as for any future government, to establish the rule of law in North Macedonia.
The measures relate to the reform of the Judicial Council, including changing the mandate of its members, the process of selecting members, improving transparency practices, increasing the financial independence of the institution, and involving civil society in the selection of members to monitor its work.
“Urgent action is needed to address these problems because the judiciary is at a critical point. The problems in the Judicial Council have been accumulating for a long time and have not been addressed in a timely and proper manner, systematically,” Geer said.
The Judicial Council is the most important institution in the country’s judiciary, as it decides on the responsibility, discipline, and dismissal of judges.
Criticism of the Judicial Council for political influences and pressures has also been emphasized in a report by the European Commission in November, while similar remarks have been made by the United States, as well as non-governmental organizations in North Macedonia.
The EC report highlights the lack of progress in the judiciary and the fight against corruption. Changes to the Penal Code have also been criticized, as they led to the interruption of many legal proceedings and reduced prison sentences for the fugitive former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and his close associates during his tenure from 2006-2016.
Regarding the developments in the Judicial Council and its actions, the U.S. Ambassador to Skopje, Angela Aggeler, declared in November that the Council has not fully met its legal obligations and its actions are not in line with the expectations of the residents of North Macedonia.
The OSCE conducted a survey among judges, in which more than half declared that they do not consider the Judicial Council as practically independent in its work.
