Skopje, 21 June 2025 (MIA) – The Law on the Judicial Council is in its final stages and I expect it to be adopted by the end of this month. There’ll be no more “I didn’t know” or “I had no authorisations”. There will be a name and a last name behind every decision, Justice Minister Igor Filkov says in an interview with MIA noting it is considered a key step in strengthening the independence and transparency of the judiciary.

Filkov announces that the Justice Ministry has received back a Venice Commission opinion on the proposed legislation on the Judicial Council with the remarks already being reviewed.

“It is a constructive document containing clear guidelines and recommendations, mainly on the segments we, the Justice Ministry, focused on the most. The remarks have been already reviewed. It matters to us that the Commission recognized the transparent and inclusive process of preparing the bill, which involved public debates, consultations with experts and engaging all key stakeholders. It is a confirmation we are moving in the right direction and that our reforms are aligned with the European standards. This approach directly contributes to strengthening the confidence in the legislative process and in the judiciary as a whole,” Filkov tells MIA.

When it comes to trust in the judiciary, he adds, it has to start from the institutions at the helm of the system, namely the Judicial Council and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

“That’s why we started from there.”

“The Council, seemingly designed to serve as guarantor of the independence, too many times had turned on a blind eye to scandals. Now, this is being changed. We’re introducing strong criteria for election and dismissal, commitment to transparency, control of integrity and, what’s most important, personal accountability mechanism. There’s no longer “I didn’t know” or “I had no authorisations. There will be a name and a last name behind every decision. For the first time, their work will be evaluated in an objective manner, whether the decision-making was transparent and accountability mechanisms will be introduced for the Council members themselves. This is one of the key points, also noted by the EU peer review mission. We’re now directly responding to this recommendation,” says Filkov.

Regarding the prosecution’s office, Filkov insists it will no longer be “a closed box” making decisions without any elaboration.

“The new legislation provides accountability, enhanced public control and a balance between hierarchy and professional freedom. We want prosecutors that act. We’re introducing a system ensuring regular and objective evaluation of prosecutors as well as a public responsibility line. We carefully integrated all key remarks from the peer review mission in this law, too,” the Minister says.

Filkov says he has one more important task by the end of the year – the adoption of a new criminal code, which will not be an alignment with European standards, but it will also introduce a crucial legal reform aimed at modernize the penal policy and provide a clear response to organized crime and corruption.

“Finally, there will be clear and applicable provisions against corruption, abuse of office, organized crime. I believe in our capacity to implement this. Reforms are not a formality – they are a reflection of our political will, responsibility and vision for a just society,” stresses Filkov.

According to him, the dynamic of reform implementation is intensive, focused and fully aligned with the commitments contained in the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

“There is a political will and a clear goal to deliver what it needed and what it has been agreed,” concludes Filkov.

Photo: MIA