In the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2024, North Macedonia’s overall score reflects both strengths and areas for improvement. But how does the country stack up against its neighbors in the region? Here’s a comparative look at how North Macedonia fares in the Western Balkans on key rule of law indicators:

  1. Constraints on Government Powers
  • North Macedonia: Score: 0.47 (5th in the region)
    • North Macedonia faces moderate challenges in government accountability, with limited checks by the judiciary and parliament.

  • Serbia: Score: 0.44
    • Serbia struggles with political interference, particularly in the judiciary, where reforms have been slow.
  • Kosovo: Score: 0.48
    • Kosovo has shown slightly better judicial independence but still contends with challenges related to political influence.
  1. Absence of Corruption
  • North Macedonia: Score: 0.46 (7th in the region)
    • Corruption remains a significant issue, particularly within the executive branch.
  • Albania: Score: 0.43
    • Albania continues to battle corruption in public administration, though recent anti-corruption initiatives have shown some progress.
  • Montenegro: Score: 0.51
    • Montenegro scores slightly better due to transparent public procurement practices and efforts to reduce corruption in key sectors.
  1. Open Government
  • North Macedonia: Score: 0.52 (6th in the region)
    • While North Macedonia has improved transparency and access to information, bureaucratic hurdles still impede full civic participation.
  • Serbia: Score: 0.47
    • Serbia struggles with transparency, particularly in ensuring public access to government documents.
  • Kosovo: Score: 0.50
    • Kosovo is showing promise in open government practices, though civic participation mechanisms could be more robust.
  1. Fundamental Rights
  • North Macedonia: Score: 0.62 (2nd in the region)
    • North Macedonia performs relatively well in protecting fundamental rights, with solid protections for life and security but challenges in freedom of expression.
  • Albania: Score: 0.59
    • Albania ranks close to North Macedonia but faces continued issues in gender equality and labor rights enforcement.
  • Montenegro: Score: 0.63
    • Montenegro edges slightly ahead with better protections for freedom of association and gender rights.
  1. Order and Security
  • North Macedonia: Score: 0.80 (6th in the region)
    • North Macedonia enjoys a stable internal environment with relatively low crime rates and effective community policing.
  • Kosovo: Score: 0.77
    • Kosovo has also maintained internal stability, though certain areas remain affected by minor civil unrest.
  • Serbia: Score: 0.71
    • Serbia faces more challenges with organized crime and civil disorder in certain regions, impacting its score.
  1. Regulatory Enforcement
  • North Macedonia: Score: 0.45 (8th in the region)
    • Regulatory enforcement in North Macedonia remains inconsistent, particularly in areas like environmental regulations and public health.
  • Albania: Score: 0.48
    • Albania faces similar challenges, with inconsistent enforcement in construction and environmental sectors.
  • Montenegro: Score: 0.49
    • Montenegro ranks slightly higher due to better enforcement of business regulations and health standards.
  1. Civil Justice
  • North Macedonia: Score: 0.51 (7th in the region)
    • Civil justice in North Macedonia is moderately accessible but often delayed due to court backlogs and high costs.
  • Kosovo: Score: 0.49
    • Kosovo faces similar issues with delays in the civil justice system but is working on reforms.
  • Serbia: Score: 0.47
    • Serbia’s civil justice system is hampered by bureaucratic red tape and complex legal processes.
  1. Criminal Justice
  • North Macedonia: Score: 0.44 (7th in the region)
    • North Macedonia’s criminal justice system struggles with investigative inefficiencies and pre-trial delays, especially for vulnerable groups.
  • Serbia: Score: 0.42
    • Serbia faces significant challenges in addressing organized crime and ensuring due process rights are upheld.
  • Montenegro: Score: 0.48
    • Montenegro performs slightly better due to targeted initiatives to improve police accountability and prosecutorial independence.

Key Takeaways

While North Macedonia performs well in some areas, such as fundamental rights and order and security, there are clear opportunities for improvement in regulatory enforcement, criminal justice, and anti-corruption measures. By learning from regional peers like Montenegro or Kosovo, North Macedonia can adopt best practices to improve its overall performance in the rule of law.

Stay connected as we continue to dive deeper into regional solutions and explore reform opportunities for North Macedonia! 🌍📊

For more details, visit the full report: WJP Rule of Law Index 2024.