This Shadow Report consolidates into a single coherent document all findings, conclusions, and recommendations resulting from the monitoring of the areas contained within Chapter 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights. This is the jubilee tenth such report published by the European Policy Institute (EPI) – Skopje, taking into account the comments and opinions of state institutions and non-governmental organizations. The previous nine 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, October 2021 – September 2022, October 2022 – September 2023, and October 2023 – September 2024.
The report covers the period from the beginning of October 2024, ending with the conclusion of September 2025. The report presents data relevant even prior to October 2024, provided they were necessary for contextualization or for clarifying developments from the current reporting period that are relevant to it. The coverage period of the report corresponds to the reporting period of the European Commission (EC) for the Republic of North Macedonia (MKD). This draft report follows the structure of Chapter 23, in accordance with the EC report. At the end of each area, recommendations are highlighted in a box.
The reporting period was marked by the implementation of the Reform Agenda of the Republic of North Macedonia for the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which represents a comprehensive package of measures to achieve the envisioned goals in the priority areas agreed upon with the EC, including the rule of law.
This Shadow Report was drafted 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.