The screening process for North Macedonia is being carried out based on expectations and plans, according to the Secretariat for European Integration. The report from the European Commission is expected regarding the first two groups, for which this process has been completed.<\/p>\n
The Secretariat emphasizes that once the European Commission\u2019s report on the screening process for the first group and the first draft of the three guidebooks for the rule of law, public administration, and public administration reforms, as well as the functioning of democratic institutions, are received, the finalization and guidance for the guides for North Macedonia will be completed.<\/p>\n
Experts in integration issues highlight that recent developments in the Judiciary Council will result in unfavorable assessments regarding the opening of negotiations, which are expected to take place at the end of this year through the first group, as both the judiciary and judicial reforms are considered problematic.<\/p>\n
In addition to the screening process, North Macedonia is engaged in overcoming the differences between the government and the opposition regarding the constitutional changes concerning the inclusion of Bulgarians in the preamble, as a condition for the start of negotiations for the country\u2019s membership in the European Union.<\/p>\n
If the constitutional changes are not made by November this year, the EU integration process for North Macedonia is at risk of being blocked.<\/p>\n
Drita Abdiu-Halili, the State Secretary at the Secretariat for European Affairs, who is also Deputy Chief Negotiator for the accession negotiations of North Macedonia to the EU, emphasizes that the European Commission\u2019s reports will be very detailed and will help in the preparation of the guidebooks to continue with the reforms.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a state, we have made significant progress in implementing reforms in these two areas [judiciary and administration] and continuously work towards meeting European standards. The screening process in these two areas was completed in November and December of last year, 2022, and now the European Commission is preparing the reports, based on which we will prepare the guidebooks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an obligation that as soon as we receive the report, we will prepare three guidebooks for the \u2018Fundamentals\u2019 of reforms in public administration and a guidebook for the functioning of institutions,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
However, experts in European integration issues emphasize that the European Commission\u2019s report will present more challenges, including shortcomings in the judiciary and administration in terms of serving the citizens.<\/p>\n
Goce Kocevski from the Young Lawyers Association in North Macedonia states to Radio Free Europe that, unlike the past years when there was at least enthusiasm for expediting reforms in the judiciary and public administration, he perceives a slowdown in both processes this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, certain developments this year, especially developments in the Judiciary Council, the lack of a legal solution and determination of responsibility for cases initiated by the Special Prosecutor\u2019s Office, have put us in a disadvantageous position compared to the start of negotiations,\u201d Kocevski emphasizes.<\/p>\n
He points out that the slowdown in the reform process in the judiciary and administration stems from political developments and issues related to the necessity of constitutional changes, as well as the approach to holding parliamentary elections where parties cannot avoid calculations to not lose voters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIssues related to public administration and reorganization, the determination of a special law for public function holders, where professionalism rather than political affiliation will be key, are activities that have started as an initiative but have not been completed. Some of these processes were initiated earlier but have not been completed. This will be our task in the future period,\u201d he believes.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Simonida Kacarska from the European Policy Institute (EPI) states for Radio Free Europe that the challenge remains in assuming the responsibilities that are emphasized as obligations for the country\u2019s institutions, regardless of how difficult and painful the reforms will be, because progress can only be achieved in this way regarding the progress of euro-integration process.<\/p>\n
Kacarska also assesses that, judicial developments, with a focus on the Judiciary Council, could push the country back in terms of fulfilling the obligations North Macedonia has received from Brussels regarding the country\u2019s integration into the European family.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe events in the Judiciary Council represent a serious risk that we, as a country, will receive worse evaluations than the previous year regarding the judicial reforms. We should bear in mind that depending on the evaluations we receive in the future period, the focus will be on implementing laws we have adopted in accordance with European standards,\u201d Kacarska emphasizes.<\/p>\n
17 years after obtaining the EU candidate status, North Macedonia formally began preliminary negotiations with the bloc last year on July 19, 2022, with the first intergovernmental conference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The screening process for North Macedonia is being carried out based on expectations and plans, according to the Secretariat for European Integration. The report from the European Commission is expected regarding the first two groups, for which this process has been completed. The Secretariat emphasizes that once the European Commission\u2019s report on the screening process […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":55837,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[2071,1276,243,151,1165,298,2912,1446],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n