Skopje, 22 July 2024 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski says Monday's meeting with EU ambassadors tackled the topic of judiciary reforms, highlighting that trust in the sector is at two percent and the Government must offer a solution.

"We opened a very important topic - judiciary reforms. It is not a case of whether we have disagreements or not. We have a problem they have ascertained as well, and one highlighted by citizens. Trust in the judiciary is at two percent and when you have a problem, you must offer a solution," PM Mickoski told Telma.

He says they want to see thorough reforms in the Judicial Council and the Council of Public Prosecutors.

"We stipulate thorough reforms in both institutions because it is obvious that the personnel policy in the prosecution and the courts depends on these two institutions, but also the way in which the work of newly-elected prosecutors and judges is assessed. If citizens' trust is at two percent, then it is logical that the government should do something about this. We cannot do things that are not part of our programme. This is part of our programme and we are saying it," says Mickoski.

The PM notes these two institutions should not have political representatives nominated by the Government, the Parliament or the President, but members elected by the prosecutors and judges themselves.

"They should elect their representatives by themselves and have their own budget, one that does not depend on the political will of a government or anyone else. Finally, their work should be supervised by a parliamentary committee or institution with members from both the ruling and opposition parties," says Mickoski.

He adds there were individuals who said "we don't agree" when the government told them about the proposal regarding the judiciary.

"I would say that the key ambassadors were softer in their remarks. I say OK, the Government and I cannot do more. Give us a solution, we will accept it," says Mickoski while noting that no ambassador provided a proposal.

We are prepared, he adds, to accept any solution that would raise the citizens' trust in the judiciary to double digits.

MIA file photo