Funded by the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), the project “EU Support for Rule of Law in North Macedonia” aims to strengthen the rule of law in the Republic of North Macedonia. To that end, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) contributes its expertise in drafting legislation, institution- and capacity-building, stakeholder cooperation as well as awareness-raising to the relevant beneficiary institutions such as the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Interior or the Ombudsman Office.

The project quarter from 8 August to 7 November 2023 featured a series of highlights: Within the scope of a witness protection training, the Assistant Director of the Criminal Police in Slovenia shared cutting edge techniques with his North Macedonian counterparts from the Prosecutor’s office and the Ministry of Interior. The trust-based cooperation facilitated a straightforward and open dialogue on the desired outcome of improving the capacities of justice institutions and implementing modern investigation techniques in fighting organized crime. Furthermore, a working group on the establishment of a National Action Plan for Child Rights has been established and was supported in the framework of the project. During a series of working group meetings, the most pressing issues have been identified and concrete steps agreed upon, including the organization of a Children’s Panel to integrate the perspective of children and young people of diverse backgrounds into the action plan. Other initiatives within the project quarter pertained to the collection of data on trafficking in human beings and communication trainings for probation officers and independent institutions such as the anti-discrimination commission and the anti-corruption commission.