Financial Crime World

Macedonia Makes Progress on Judicial Reform and Anti-Corruption Efforts

Skopje, Macedonia

The country’s judicial system has made significant strides in recent months, with key reforms aimed at restoring independence and ensuring the judiciary can function without undue influence. A credible new judicial reform strategy has been adopted, and key pieces of legislation have been amended to align with recommendations from international bodies.

Judicial Reform

  • A credible new judicial reform strategy has been adopted
  • Key pieces of legislation have been amended to align with international body recommendations
  • Significant strides made in recent months to restore independence and ensure the judiciary functions without undue influence

Anti-Corruption Efforts

Macedonia’s efforts to combat corruption have also shown some progress, although the country still faces challenges in tackling the problem. The legislative and institutional framework is in place, and there is a track record on both prevention and prosecution. However, final court rulings on high-level corruption cases remain limited.

Combating Corruption

  • Legislative and institutional framework in place
  • Track record of prevention and prosecution
  • Limited progress in finalizing court rulings on high-level corruption cases

Human Rights and Freedom of Expression

Macedonia has achieved some level of preparation in protecting fundamental rights, with reforms enhancing compliance with European human rights standards. The country has ratified the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, and has made progress in implementing measures to protect the rights of marginalized groups.

Freedom of expression is also a key area where progress has been made, with the government lifting restrictions on media outlets and allowing for greater freedom of speech.

Human Rights

  • Reforms enhancing compliance with European human rights standards
  • Ratification of Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
  • Progress in implementing measures to protect marginalized groups

Freedom of Expression

  • Government lifting restrictions on media outlets
  • Greater freedom of speech allowed

Economic Progress

The country’s economy continues to diversify its exports and increase higher-value added output in the manufacturing sector. Trade and investment relations with the EU have continued to intensify, with the country showing a moderate level of preparation to cope with competitive pressures and market forces within the EU.

However, Macedonia still faces challenges in areas such as education curricula, low innovation rates, and important investment gaps, particularly in public infrastructure.

Economic Progress

  • Economy diversifying exports and increasing higher-value added output
  • Moderate level of preparation to cope with competitive pressures and market forces within the EU
  • Challenges remain in areas such as education curricula, low innovation rates, and public infrastructure

Ability to Assume Membership Obligations

Macedonia is moderately prepared to assume the obligations of membership in most areas, including competition, transport, and energy. The country has shown a good level of preparation in areas such as company law, customs union, and science and research.

However, further efforts are needed across the board, particularly in areas where the country is at an early stage of preparation, such as freedom of movement of workers. More focus is also needed on administrative capacity and effective implementation.

Ability to Assume Membership Obligations

  • Moderately prepared to assume membership obligations in most areas
  • Good level of preparation in areas such as company law, customs union, and science and research
  • Further efforts needed across the board, particularly in freedom of movement of workers and administrative capacity

Migration and Refugee Crisis

Macedonia has continued to manage the effects of the migration and refugee crisis, negotiating with the European Union on a status agreement for actions by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the country. The government has made efforts to improve its legal framework and implement its Resolution on Migration Policy.

However, more needs to be done to put in place a return mechanism for irregular migrants and align visa policy with EU standards.

Migration and Refugee Crisis

  • Negotiating with EU on status agreement for European Border and Coast Guard Agency
  • Efforts made to improve legal framework and implement Migration Policy
  • Further efforts needed to establish return mechanism for irregular migrants and align visa policy with EU standards

Political Crisis

Macedonia’s political crisis, which arose from revelations of widespread illegal communication interceptions, has been largely overcome. The government has implemented substantial progress in implementing the “Urgent Reform Priorities” and the country has finally overcome its deep political crisis.

However, the transition of power was delayed by the refusal of President Ivanov to give the mandate to form a government, leading to violent attacks in Parliament.

Political Crisis

  • Political crisis largely overcome
  • Government implemented substantial progress in implementing “Urgent Reform Priorities”
  • Transition of power delayed due to President Ivanov’s refusal