Skopje, 28 May 2023 (MIA) – The Netherlands has put on hold a project related to the Judicial Council, which has become illegitimate body, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the country, Dirk Jan Kop said Sunday.

Asked about the situation in the judicial system, Dutch Ambassador Kop said in an interview with Radio Free Europe that it is a central issue, which the Netherlands is following it closely.

“It is part of the cluster on fundamentals, which is open first and will be closed last, and will remain of high importance. Instead, what we see that SPO cases getting bog down in the courts. It is very bad development. Now we have the case of Judicial Council which has become illegitimate body that is of extraordinary seriousness that is really painful to watch, and it has led to an unprecedented step as a result of that the Netherlands has now put on hold a large project we were doing with the Judicial Council, very serious,” Kop stated.

According to Kop, in February 2020 the parliament adopted laws that guaranteed the prosecution of SPO cases and 
was the only event that made his country agree to the membership of North Macedonia in the EU.

“In the past two years we thought we saw progress, better mentality, independent appointment of judges in the Court, but also now we see again that things are getting worse. We see signs of political influence in the election of the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime, we see signs of political influence in the selection of candidates for the Academy of Judges and Public Prosecutors, we see signs of political influence in practically all courts, and yes, it is very worrying, it is piling up one after another and let me remind you that in February 2020, when the Parliament passed the laws that guaranteed the prosecution of SPO cases, wiretapping cases, and that was the only event that made my country agree to the membership of North Macedonia in the EU, and then the EU Council agreed to this in March 2020. It is the central issue, and we are following it closely,” Kop said.

Photo: MIA archive