Skopje, 8 May 2026 (MIA) - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Affairs Bekim Sali met Friday with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, reaffirming the strong and ongoing cooperation between the country and the Council of Europe in the fields of the rule of law, democracy and human rights.

Minister Sali welcomed the closure of the post-monitoring dialogue of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in January 2026, describing it as an important recognition of the country’s democratic progress, rule of law reforms and commitment to European standards, the Ministry of European Affairs said in a press release.

The meeting highlighted the importance of the Council of Europe’s expert support in the European integration process, particularly within Chapters 23 and 24 related to judiciary, fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security.

Minister Sali expressed appreciation for the Council of Europe’s involvement in assessing the Action Plan on the rights of persons belonging to communities as well as for the alignment with the Rule of Law Roadmap, which constitute an important part of the opening benchmarks for Cluster 1 on Fundamentals.

“The discussions also highlighted the important role of Council of Europe bodies and mechanisms, including the Venice Commission, GRECO, MONEYVAL, CEPEJ and the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), which support efforts to strengthen judicial independence, fight corruption and organized crime, and protect human rights,” reads the press release.

Minister Sali noted that the Government remains fully committed to implementing reforms and continuing the European integration process, in close cooperation with European institutions and international partners.

Photo: Ministry of European Affairs