As we continue examining North Macedonia’s performance in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2024, it’s important to look beyond the numbers and explore regional solutions that could help North Macedonia address specific challenges. By learning from its neighbors, North Macedonia can adopt proven strategies and implement reforms to improve its overall rule of law standing. Here are some key areas where regional best practices offer valuable lessons:

  1. Strengthening Government Accountability: Learning from Kosovo
  • Kosovo’s Progress: Kosovo has made strides in judicial independence through reforms that limit political interference in the judiciary. North Macedonia could benefit from adopting similar judicial oversight mechanisms, ensuring that the judiciary can act independently, particularly in anti-corruption cases.
  • Reform Opportunity: Establish a judicial watchdog body with the power to investigate undue influence on judicial decisions and enhance the transparency of court proceedings.
  1. Fighting Corruption: Learning from Montenegro’s Anti-Corruption Framework
  • Montenegro’s Transparency Efforts: Montenegro’s digital public procurement system and transparency laws have been highly effective in curbing corruption in government contracts. North Macedonia could implement digital procurement platforms to reduce corruption risks and ensure fair public spending.
  • Reform Opportunity: Launch a public procurement transparency portal where all government contracts, tenders, and procurement decisions are accessible to the public, reducing opportunities for corruption.
  1. Improving Civic Participation and Open Government: Learning from Albania’s Community Engagement Initiatives
  • Albania’s Civic Forums: Albania has successfully implemented community forums that engage citizens, especially from rural and marginalized areas, in policy discussions. North Macedonia can adopt similar approaches to improve civic participation, particularly for ethnic minorities and women.
  • Reform Opportunity: Establish local civic forums in rural areas and marginalized communities to allow citizens to engage with local government, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes.
  1. Protecting Fundamental Rights: Learning from Romania’s Anti-Discrimination Campaigns
  • Romania’s Targeted Reforms: Romania has implemented public education campaigns and legal reforms to combat gender and ethnic discrimination. North Macedonia could replicate these campaigns, focusing on empowering Roma communities and reducing gender-based discrimination in the workplace.
  • Reform Opportunity: Develop a nationwide anti-discrimination education campaign that highlights the rights of vulnerable groups and strengthens anti-discrimination laws to ensure more effective protection.
  1. Enhancing Regulatory Enforcement: Learning from Serbia’s Mobile Inspection Systems
  • Serbia’s Mobile Regulation Enforcement: Serbia’s implementation of mobile inspection systems has increased regulatory oversight, particularly in sectors like environmental protection and public health. North Macedonia could adopt similar systems to ensure consistent enforcement of regulations.
  • Reform Opportunity: Introduce mobile regulatory inspection units to monitor compliance across industries, with a focus on environmental and health regulations that protect vulnerable communities.
  1. Expanding Access to Justice: Learning from Poland’s Legal Aid Clinics
  • Poland’s Access to Justice Model: Poland’s network of legal aid clinics offers free or low-cost legal services to low-income and rural populations. North Macedonia could implement similar programs to address legal accessibility issues for marginalized groups.
  • Reform Opportunity: Establish mobile legal aid clinics that travel to rural areas, providing free legal advice and representation to those who are unable to afford traditional legal services.
  1. Improving Criminal Justice Efficiency: Learning from Romania’s Partnership Model
  • Romania’s EU-Supported Initiatives: Romania has enhanced its criminal justice system by partnering with the EU to increase investigative resources and provide specialized training for prosecutors. North Macedonia could pursue similar partnerships to strengthen criminal investigations and prosecution of complex cases.
  • Reform Opportunity: Develop partnerships with the EU or international organizations to provide training and resources for North Macedonia’s law enforcement and judicial personnel, particularly in organized crime and financial crime investigations.

Next Steps for North Macedonia:

By adopting these regional best practices, North Macedonia can take significant steps toward addressing its rule of law challenges and ensuring a more transparent, equitable, and efficient governance system. Each reform opportunity outlined here has the potential to directly improve the lives of vulnerable populations and strengthen public trust in government institutions.

Stay connected as we continue to explore how North Macedonia can implement these reforms and create a more just and accountable society for all its citizens! 🌍📊

For more details and to learn how these reforms can be applied, visit the full report: WJP Rule of Law Index 2024.