An efficient judiciary is not possible without enough resources, EU Ambassador Rokas assessed at Tuesday’s conference organized in the frames of the EU Support for Rule of Law project. As he highlighted, the 2025 budget, too, failed to provide enough funds, i.e. there was 0.3% of the GDP, far below the amount of 0.8%, foreseen in the law.
Stressing that citizens expected an efficient and independent judiciary, the Ambassador pointed to the latest EC Report.
“North Macedonia’s judicial system remains between some and a moderate level of preparation, and has made no progress. This is a bureaucratic term, but, in reality, this assessment reflects longstanding concerns related to political interference, limited financial autonomy, weaknesses in governance, and human resource constraints. These shortcomings directly affect both the independence and the efficiency of the judicial system”, he noted.
Supreme Court President Fidani and Judicial Council President Kambovski, too, pointed to the lack of funds, judges, and prosecutors, but also expert associates. In their view, for there to be quality justice, what’s needed is financial independence. However, both highlighted the role of judges in the protection of independence as well.