In its 2025 Rule of Law Report, regarding North Macedonia, the EC says that North Macedonia continued implementing its judicial reform, while interference and pressure from other state branches raise serious concerns about judicial independence.
The dismissal procedure launched against Prosecutor-General Ljupco Kocevski exposed shortcomings in the rules for the dismissal and a risk of politicisation, the Report notes.
“Initiatives presented by the Government as aiming to tackle corruption have largely focused on taking ‘robust action’ against the judiciary, which in some instances raised serious concerns regarding the respect for the independence of the judiciary and the principle of separation of powers”, it is pointed out.
The document includes a part on the statements from Government officials for the Judicial Council members’ dismissals, but also the no-confidence motions against the five members elected by Parliament, as well as calls for resignations of theirs.
“While these motions do not provide the legal grounds for dismissing the Judicial Council members, they amount to de facto political no-confidence votes, and as such risk undermining the legitimacy and independence of the Council members”, the Report says as well.
The document also includes the resignation of Vesna Dameva as President.