Skopje, 13 April 2023 (MIA) — Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Good Governance Slavica Grkovska at a working meeting with Public Advocate Naser Ziberi discussed the institution's current challenges and possible solutions.

According to an official press release, Deputy Prime Minister Grkovska briefed Public Advocate Ziberi on her team's coordination activities to ensure a more effective implementation of the European Commission's recommendations from the Progress Report on North Macedonia.

She stressed the importance of institutional cooperation in implementing the recommendations, which would help overcome systemic weaknesses, the release says.

Grkovska and Ziberi discussed the need to begin changing legislation regarding the Public Advocate as an institution, especially related to its financial independence.

"They also talked about the Public Advocate's cooperation with other institutions toward making sure citizens' rights are protected," the release says, adding that a problem the institution had regarding prison visits had recently been solved.

Grkovska and Ziberi expressed their readiness to work together toward overcoming remaining challenges, the release adds. mr/