Shadow report for Chapter 23 for the period between October 2022 and September 2023

This Shadow Report brings together in a single coherent whole all the findings, conclusions and recommendations that resulted from the monitoring in the areas covered by Chapter 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights. This is the eighth such report published by the European Policy Institute (EPI) – Skopje, taking into account the comments and opinions of non-governmental organisations. The previous seven reports covered the following periods: October 2014 – July 2015, July 2015 – April 2016, May 2016 – January 2018, June 2018 – March 2019, April 2019 – March 2020, April 2020 – September 2021 and October 2021 – September 2022.

This report covers the period from the beginning of October 2022 until the end of September 2023. The report provides data that are relevant even before October 2022, if they were needed for contextualisation or clarification of new information from the current reporting period, and which are relevant for the reporting period. The reporting period of this report corresponds to the reporting period of the European Commission (EC) for the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM). This draft report follows the structure of Chapter 23, in line with the EC report. At the end of each area, we have singled out in a frame the recommendations and the main conclusions.

The reporting period was marked by country’s participation in the screening process, the receiving of the screening report for Cluster 1, “Fundamentals”, as well as the preparation of the strategic documents for the opening of this cluster, in parallel with the existing pronounced political polarisation related to the “French proposal” and the constitutional amendments as well as the worrying developments in the area of the rule of law. In addition, the report of the Franco-German group of experts on EU institutional reforms was presented, positioning the respect for the rule of law as a fundamental constitutional principle, essential for the effective functioning of the EU and a prerequisite for accession. Hence, there is a need for significant practical changes in line with European standards and showing commitment of the institutions to the reforms in the area.

This shadow report was prepared within the framework of the project “Building Bridges for a Common Future: Rule of Law in View of EU accession”. The project is financed by the European Union and aims to help create sustainable reforms for the rule of law on the path to the EU accession.