Skopje, 8 May 2026 (MIA) - Justice Minister Igor Filkov and Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset signed Friday in Skopje the CoE Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, the first international legally binding treaty in the field.

The Framework Convention complements existing international standards on human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and aims to fill any legal gaps that may result from rapid technological advances. In order to stand the test of time, the Framework Convention does not regulate technology and is essentially technology-neutral.

Secretary General Berset said North Macedonia is the 46th country to join the Convention, which reaffirms that AI must serve humanity.

"The adoption is only the beginning, the next priority is ratification and implementation. We find ourselves in the midst of a technological revolution, in which AI is developing faster than the democratic safeguards. AI is already shaping the way in which we take decisions, and the answer is not to show resistance to this transformation. Our task is to make AI responsible in accordance with human rights, democracy and rule of law. This is the message that North Macedonia is sending today," said Berset.

Minister Filkov said the legal framework, enhancement of human rights, democracy and rule of law must follow the pace of fast technological development, with the Framework Convention being a historic step forward in this regard.

"What does this mean for North Macedonia? First of all, it means that we are introducing clear guarantees that AI will be used in a way that respects human dignity, equality and non-discrimination. Citizens' privacy and data will be protected and access to effective legal remedies if their rights are violated will be ensured," said Filkov.

According to him, the Convention ensures that states can adapt measures in line with their legal and institutional systems while observing universal standards.

"This is of crucial importance for effective implementation and sustainable results. We are aware that hard work lies ahead. A thorough pre-ratification analysis will follow, accompanied by the process of alignment with our national legislation. All relevant institutions and experts will be involved, so that we ensure proper and comprehensive implementation of the obligations arising from the Convention," said Filkov.

Opened for signature on 5 September 2024, the Framework Convention aims to ensure that activities within the lifecycle of artificial intelligence systems are fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law, while being conducive to technological progress and innovation.

Photo: MIA