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After the round-table and discussion organized by EPI on December 3rd in Skopje, our speakers answered how they see the way forward after the French “No” for opening of the accession negotiations with North Macedonia?
We are proud to inform you that the WeBER Project has received financial support from the European Commission for its continuation and that in the next three years we will continue our work toward reformed public administrations in the Western Balkans.
After the concern about the impact of new pandemic viral infection on the availability and accessibility of healthcare services (including abortion and mental health), labour rights (including those of journalists), corruption, the rights of persons deprived of liberty and of the victims of human trafficking and exploitation, as well as the impact on gender equality, including through the expected increase in domestic violence, several days ago the (perhaps) anticipated, yet worth re-visiting, step came. Namely, North Macedonia derogated from the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) in relation to the state of emergency introduced as a result of the spreading of COVID-19.
This seems like a completely expected next step after the country declared a state of emergency. However, we do believe that it is important to bear in mind that the derogation significance, assessment and consequences will not only depend on how well-conceived and carried out the initial step – the submission of the notification about the derogation was, but also on all the other upcoming steps that the country would take from now on, until the day the derogation ceases. These would be the elements that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) would focus on when reviewing the cases that will be submitted in connection to the measures that the states undertook or failed to undertake during the COVID-19 crisis. However, in addition, and equally important is the fact that this crisis will pose a new challenge for the domestic courts as well, as already indicated by the Fundamental Rights European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA); the domestic courts will need to assess the necessity and proportionality of the introduced measures in the cases related to these measures.
This analysis was prepared by the Institute for European Policy – Skopje (EPI) within the framework of the project “Engaging the Private Sector in Education on Entrepreneurship”, implemented in cooperation with the Youth Educational Forum (MOF), supported by the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).
1. The objectives of the project are the following:
i) To enhance the capacity of Macedonian youth to engage in entrepreneurship;
ii) To enhance the private sector’s role in entrepreneurship education among youth in North Macedonia;
iii) To amplify public support for policies that improve the economic conditions for youth in North Macedonia.
In light of the decision by the Ministers of EU Affairs to give a green light to opening of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia, we prepared an infographic on the preparedness of North Macedonia for starting the EU accession negotiations compared to the other Western Balkan countries.
Take a look at the preparedness of North Macedonia in the cluster “Fundamentals” as well as the other clusters as defined in the new proposed methodology by the European Commission. North Macedonia is prepared for opening accession negotiations. In certain areas of the EU acquis, the country is well ahead in terms of preparedness compared to other WB countries.
The right of young people to participate in decision making emphasizes their role and importance in society, and in the case of North Macedonia, in the processes of harmonization with European standards. The infosheet gives an overview of existing youth policy in regards to youth participation and engagement in decision making in the European Union, as well as in North Macedonia.
This policy analysis is an overview of North Macedonia’s efforts and of its cooperation with Frontex and EU Member States in countering illegal migration as of the migrant/refugee crisis in 2015. It elaborates the context of the issue, the legal framework and the contents of documents relevant to the Republic of North Macedonia, Frontex and EU Member States. The analysis has the following structure: an introduction, the cooperation between Republic of North Macedonia and Frontex, the Macedonian response to the migrant crisis and concluding remarks. The key takeaways from this research are as follows: The migrant/refugee crisis in 2015 could not have been dealt with actions taken solely by one country; instead the cooperation of Frontex, EU Member States and Western Balkan countries was crucial in applying a systematic approach in managing the flows of migrants along the Western Balkan Route. The achieved level of control of EU’s external borders was supported by substantive financial and technical resources provided by the EU, its agencies and EU Member States. The processes undertaken in North Macedonia seemed to be lacking transparency. The country was flexible in implementing measures related to border control, especially when relevant national authorities invited (EU) foreign police officers (border guards) to help manage the high influx of migrants/refugees at the country’s borders. The exact number of foreign police officers is unknown due to lack of information on the official website of the Ministry of the Interior. North Macedonia has harmonized the relevant legal framework and has adopted and implemented national documents. The capacities of relevant authorities have been strengthened with various EU and EU Member States funded actions; in addition, an Agreement of Cooperation between Frontex and North Macedonia was initialled. It is yet to be seen how this Agreement will be implemented as soon as it will have been ratified by the Macedonian Assembly.
This public policy brief builds on the views expressed in the Public Policy Dialogue held on December 11, 2019 at Hotel Arka in Skopje as part of the “Partnership Justitia” project: Restoring Citizens’ Confidence ”, implemented by the European Policy Institute and the ZENIT Association, funded by the European Union through the Sector for Central Financing and Contracting and co-financed by the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. The project aims to contribute to restoring citizens’ confidence in the Macedonian justice sector, by significantly involving civil society in essential reforms. The final beneficiaries of this project are the institutions in the field of judiciary.
The dialogue consisted of two sessions attended by about 60 representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Judicial Council, the Council of Public Prosecutors, judges, public prosecutors, experts in the field, civil society representatives and diplomatic missions in the Republic of North Macedonia.
After the concern about the impact of new pandemic viral infection on the availability and accessibility of healthcare services (including abortion and mental health), labour rights (including those of journalists), corruption, the rights of persons deprived of liberty and of the victims of human trafficking and exploitation, as well as the impact on gender equality, including through the expected increase in domestic violence, several days ago the (perhaps) anticipated, yet worth re-visiting, step came. Namely, North Macedonia derogated from the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) in relation to the state of emergency introduced as a result of the spreading of COVID-19.
This seems like a completely expected next step after the country declared a state of emergency. However, we do believe that it is important to bear in mind that the derogation significance, assessment and consequences will not only depend on how well-conceived and carried out the initial step – the submission of the notification about the derogation was, but also on all the other upcoming steps that the country would take from now on, until the day the derogation ceases. These would be the elements that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) would focus on when reviewing the cases that will be submitted in connection to the measures that the states undertook or failed to undertake during the COVID-19 crisis. However, in addition, and equally important is the fact that this crisis will pose a new challenge for the domestic courts as well, as already indicated by the Fundamental Rights European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA); the domestic courts will need to assess the necessity and proportionality of the introduced measures in the cases related to these measures.
This analysis was prepared by the Institute for European Policy – Skopje (EPI) within the framework of the project “Engaging the Private Sector in Education on Entrepreneurship”, implemented in cooperation with the Youth Educational Forum (MOF), supported by the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).
1. The objectives of the project are the following:
i) To enhance the capacity of Macedonian youth to engage in entrepreneurship;
ii) To enhance the private sector’s role in entrepreneurship education among youth in North Macedonia;
iii) To amplify public support for policies that improve the economic conditions for youth in North Macedonia.
In light of the decision by the Ministers of EU Affairs to give a green light to opening of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia, we prepared an infographic on the preparedness of North Macedonia for starting the EU accession negotiations compared to the other Western Balkan countries.
Take a look at the preparedness of North Macedonia in the cluster “Fundamentals” as well as the other clusters as defined in the new proposed methodology by the European Commission. North Macedonia is prepared for opening accession negotiations. In certain areas of the EU acquis, the country is well ahead in terms of preparedness compared to other WB countries.
The right of young people to participate in decision making emphasizes their role and importance in society, and in the case of North Macedonia, in the processes of harmonization with European standards. The infosheet gives an overview of existing youth policy in regards to youth participation and engagement in decision making in the European Union, as well as in North Macedonia.
This policy analysis is an overview of North Macedonia’s efforts and of its cooperation with Frontex and EU Member States in countering illegal migration as of the migrant/refugee crisis in 2015. It elaborates the context of the issue, the legal framework and the contents of documents relevant to the Republic of North Macedonia, Frontex and EU Member States. The analysis has the following structure: an introduction, the cooperation between Republic of North Macedonia and Frontex, the Macedonian response to the migrant crisis and concluding remarks. The key takeaways from this research are as follows: The migrant/refugee crisis in 2015 could not have been dealt with actions taken solely by one country; instead the cooperation of Frontex, EU Member States and Western Balkan countries was crucial in applying a systematic approach in managing the flows of migrants along the Western Balkan Route. The achieved level of control of EU’s external borders was supported by substantive financial and technical resources provided by the EU, its agencies and EU Member States. The processes undertaken in North Macedonia seemed to be lacking transparency. The country was flexible in implementing measures related to border control, especially when relevant national authorities invited (EU) foreign police officers (border guards) to help manage the high influx of migrants/refugees at the country’s borders. The exact number of foreign police officers is unknown due to lack of information on the official website of the Ministry of the Interior. North Macedonia has harmonized the relevant legal framework and has adopted and implemented national documents. The capacities of relevant authorities have been strengthened with various EU and EU Member States funded actions; in addition, an Agreement of Cooperation between Frontex and North Macedonia was initialled. It is yet to be seen how this Agreement will be implemented as soon as it will have been ratified by the Macedonian Assembly.
This public policy brief builds on the views expressed in the Public Policy Dialogue held on December 11, 2019 at Hotel Arka in Skopje as part of the “Partnership Justitia” project: Restoring Citizens’ Confidence ”, implemented by the European Policy Institute and the ZENIT Association, funded by the European Union through the Sector for Central Financing and Contracting and co-financed by the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. The project aims to contribute to restoring citizens’ confidence in the Macedonian justice sector, by significantly involving civil society in essential reforms. The final beneficiaries of this project are the institutions in the field of judiciary.
The dialogue consisted of two sessions attended by about 60 representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Judicial Council, the Council of Public Prosecutors, judges, public prosecutors, experts in the field, civil society representatives and diplomatic missions in the Republic of North Macedonia.
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