EPI: By mediation towards decreased litigation and lower costs for citizens
”Mediation significantly reduces the need for litigation, and at the same time reduces the costs for the citizens”, is the key message of the today’s event: “The benefits of mediation as an alternative way of resolving disputes” organised by the European Policy Institute (EPI) – Skopje.
The speakers shared views on the development of the mediation in North Macedonia, through positive experiences, such as the increased number of agreements, especially in labour disputes. Nevertheless, Macedonian citizens and businesses do not use mediation sufficiently The EU experiences was presented through the example of the Netherlands, as a country which has the highest rate of mediation cases at European level. This indicates that through this mechanism the courts are significantly disburdened of cases, and it is a preferable method dispute resolution both for courts and citizens.
The speakers at the conference have been: the Minister of Justice of the Republic of North Macedonia – Bojan Maricic, the Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Skopje – H.E. Robert Decker, the Director of the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors – Natasha Gaber – Damjanovska, the President of the Chamber of Mediators of the Republic of North Macedonia – Slave Mladenovski, President of the Mediators Federation Netherlands – Jan van Zwieten, the State Counselor at the Ministry of Justice – Radica Lazareska Gerovska and the President of the Board for ensuring, monitoring and evaluating the quality of mediation activities in the Republic of North Macedonia – Marko Andonov.
The event is a part of the project “Mediate, do not hesitate!“, supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Skopje, which is implemented by EPI in cooperation with the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors “Pavel Shatev”, the Chamber of Mediators of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Mediators Federation Netherlands.
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the promotion and increase of the overall usage rate of the mediation, through joint actions, dialogue and evidence-based advocacy. Through cooperation with the Mediators Federation Netherlands, the project will strengthen the capacities of mediators, judges, prosecutors, by sharing the Dutch experience.
The video material from today’s event is available at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/EPI.Skopje/videos/187089329759652/
