Brussels, 9 November 2023 (MIA) – Committee of Permanent Representatives in the EU (COREPER) approved a letter inviting the country to prepare the roadmaps for the rule of law and for the public administration reform for the opening of negotiations under ‘Cluster 1 – the Fundamentals.’

According to MIA’s Brussels correspondent, the decision was approved at Wednesday's meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU Member States - COREPER II, which consists of the heads of missions and largely deals with political, financial and foreign policy issues.

Regarding the decision of the Council, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani posted on Facebook that this has successfully completed another obligation that brings us closer to opening the clusters and chapters in the direction of accelerated EU integration.

"Good news from Brussels! Yesterday, the Council of the EU approved a letter inviting us to prepare the roadmaps for the rule of law and for the public administration reform for the opening of negotiations under ‘Cluster 1 – the Fundamentals,’" Osmani said in a Facebook post.

The European Commission published at the beginning of August a draft screening report on North Macedonia for ‘Cluster 1 - the Fundamentals,’ which is based on information received during the screening and dialogues conducted in the Stabilisation and Association bodies as well as the Commission’s annual Enlargement package country reports.

The report reflects the state of the country and the direction for future reforms that the country will need to make in the areas of the rule of law, in particular judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organized crime, human rights, strengthening of democratic institutions and public administration reform, in order to fulfil the conditions for EU membership.

In its 2023 Progress Report on North Macedonia, the European Commission assesses that there was no progress in the field of the judiciary during the reporting period, and that the country’s judicial system is in between some and moderate level of preparation to apply the EU acquis and European standards in this area.

In the section on the fight against corruption, the EC assesses that no progress has been made, and the country is in between some and moderate level of preparation in the prevention and fight against corruption.

In the section on the fight against organized crime, the Report assesses that North Macedonia has some level of preparation, and that some progress was made during the reporting period.

North Macedonia continues to meet its general obligations on fundamental rights, but the legislation should be implemented in a more systematic manner, reads the European Commission's progress report in terms of the protection of fundamental rights, noting that the country's legal framework on the protection of fundamental rights is partially aligned with the EU acquis and standards on fundamental rights.

North Macedonia continued its efforts to strengthen democracy, aimed at proper functioning of democratic institutions. Parliament’s work was marred by political polarisation, which deepened further, delaying the adoption of many reform laws and important appointments.

North Macedonia remains moderately prepared in terms of public administration reform. Limited progress was made in the reporting period with the adoption of the new public administration reform strategy and the accompanying action plan.

Photo: MIA archive