In its 2026 Rule of Law Report on North Macedonia, the EC notes issues related to interference and pressure on the judiciary by representatives of the Government, while it refers to the Criminal Code changes too.
The independence of the judiciary and autonomy of prosecution are undermined by insufficient budgetary allocation, while elected officials and Government representatives have escalated their personal criticism against judges and prosecutors, it is pointed out.
The dismissal procedure against the Prosecutor General exposed a risk of politicization and shortcomings in the dismissal rules, the Report also says.
According to the document, the inadequate legislative framework, notably the 2023 Criminal Code, insufficient human and financial resources, together with delays in court proceedings, hindered the development of a solid track record of anti-corruption cases.