Skopje, 5 May 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Justice Krenar Lloga held a meeting Friday with the President of the Supreme Court Besa Ademi and the President of the working group in charge of drafting the judicial reforms Strategy, academician Vlado Kambovski, during which they discussed the situation in the judiciary and overcoming the challenges faced by certain institutions and the Judicial Council.

In a press release, the Ministry of Justice said that at the meeting it was concluded that the events in the Judicial Councils are contrary to the commitments for independence and the reputation of the judiciary, building public trust, as well as the recommendations from the reports of the EU and U.S. Department of State.

“One of the solutions for the situation in the Judicial Council is the urgent adoption of amendments to the Law on Judicial Council in line with the Strategy for reforms in the judiciary. The legal amendments should be aimed at boosting the independence, expertise and functionality of the Judicial Council as a body in charge of securing and guaranteeing the independence of the judicial branch. All flaws in the legislation that caused problems in practice and left room for various interpretations should be overcome with the amendments,” said the Ministry in the press release.

The Ministry added that the need for urgent legal amendments has been stressed before within the working group in charge of drafting the new Strategy, and the issues arising with the implementation of the law were noted as well.

According to the press release, the Supreme Court of the Republic of North Macedonia has already submitted proposals for urgent legal amendments, and has also submitted an Initiative to the Constitutional Court with which it disputes the constitutionality of the provisions of the Law on Judicial Council.

Photo: Ministry of Justice