EU Calls for Accountability and Action on Human Rights in North Macedonia

The European Union has passed a strongly worded resolution calling on North Macedonia to take decisive action to address a range of human rights concerns. The resolution expresses concern over the country’s failure to ensure political and legal accountability, combat discrimination and violence, and protect the rights of migrants and refugees.

Ensuring Political Accountability

• The EU calls for the completion of intelligence services reform and ensuring proper external oversight.
• The authorities are urged to take decisive action to dismantle criminal networks engaged in human trafficking, arms trade, and drug trafficking.
• Improved institutional capacity and inter-institutional cooperation between law enforcement agencies is necessary to combat these crimes.

Protecting Migrants and Refugees

• The EU expresses concern over the treatment of migrants and refugees, particularly women and children, and calls on North Macedonia to ensure they are treated in accordance with international and EU law.
• The authorities must provide support services for victims of violence and abuse.

Countering Islamic Radicalization and Foreign Terrorist Fighters

• Increased cooperation between security agencies and civil society organizations is necessary to combat Islamic radicalization and foreign terrorist fighters.
• Continued monitoring of returning foreign fighters and their proper reintegration into society is essential.

Strengthening Children’s Justice System

• The EU calls for further improvements in the children’s justice system, including sufficient budget allocations to implement the Justice for Children Law.

Key Recommendations

1. Ensure political and legal accountability for criminal offenses, including those related to the wiretap scandal.
2. Complete the reform of intelligence services and ensure proper external oversight.
3. Take decisive action to dismantle criminal networks engaged in human trafficking, arms trade, and drug trafficking.
4. Improve institutional capacity and inter-institutional cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
5. Ensure that migrants and refugees are treated in accordance with international and EU law.
6. Increase cooperation between security agencies and civil society organizations to combat Islamic radicalization and foreign terrorist fighters.
7. Continue monitoring of returning foreign fighters and their proper reintegration into society.
8. Improve the children’s justice system and provide sufficient budget allocations to implement the Justice for Children Law.
9. Provide support services for victims of violence and abuse.
10. Take concrete action to address persistent deficiencies in the implementation of human rights standards.

EU Officials Urge Action

EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell urged North Macedonia to take decisive action to address these pressing concerns, stating that “the European Union is committed to supporting North Macedonia’s efforts to strengthen its democracy and human rights record, but we must see concrete progress on these issues.”

The resolution serves as a strong reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law in North Macedonia. It is essential that the country takes immediate action to address these concerns and demonstrates its commitment to protecting the rights of all its citizens.