European Union and Council of Europe to further strengthen co-operation with authorities in North Macedonia towards consolidation of human rights…
Skopje, 22 March 2021 - The joint European Union and Council of Europe programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022 has been a valuable support to North Macedonia in particular to further strengthen fundamental freedom and human rights of citizens, concluded the participants of the Second Beneficiary Steering Committee Meeting taking place online today in Skopje. The programme will continue assisting authorities to comply with European standards in the field of human rights, rule of law and democracy.
During the meeting partner and beneficiary institutions took stock of the Horizontal Facility II key achievements, welcoming the flexibility of the programme to tackle key challenges during implementation, in particular in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her address, Deputy Director, Horizontal Facility Beneficiary Co-ordinator - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Gorica Atanasova Gjorevska expressed her appreciation and support for the dedicated implementation of the objectives of the Joint Programme of the European Union/Council of Europe - Horizontal Facility II, stressing the active involvement of the beneficiary institutions and stakeholders in the continuous realisation of the projects, in these very difficult conditions and pandemic environment. The Annual Steering Committee is yet another opportunity for all of us to assess the progress made, as well as to discern the areas in which my country needs further assistance in the domestic reform processes while remaining dedicated to the European agenda" said Atanasova Gjorevska.
In his remarks, the Head of Cooperation in the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of North Macedonia, Nicola Bertolini stressed that: With our joint and continuous efforts in the framework of the European Union and Council of Europe Horizontal Facility initiative, we have managed to develop strong partnership, trust and we have delivered numerous positive results in the field of human rights, rule of law, that contribute to the overall reform processes in North Macedonia and the whole region.
The Head of Programming Department in the Council of Europe Office of the Directorate General of Programmes, Pilar Morales, underlined that: The Council of Europe, hand in hand with the European Union and the domestic partners, remains now more than ever, in this particular challenging context, committed to support North Macedonia to forge ahead with its reform agenda and advance on its EU path and compliance with Council of Europe standards.
With a dedicated budget of over 4.1 million, the EU and Council of Europe joint Horizontal Facility II programme is currently implementing six major actions in North Macedonia. Through the technical assistance, these actions are supporting the needs of the public authorities in addressing important reforms to ensure justice, fight corruption and organised crime, promote diversity and equality and to advance freedom of media and freedom of expression, within the framework of the EU enlargement process.
The Horizontal Facility II joint programme was created as a co-operation initiative of the European Union and Council of Europe to assist Beneficiaries in the Western Balkans and Turkey to comply with Council of Europe standards and, where relevant, the European Union acquis in the framework of the enlargement process.
Despite the effect that COVID-19 pandemic had on the implementation of the actions under the Horizontal Facility II in North Macedonia, notable results were achieved during its second year of implementation.
In the field of ensuring justice and equal rights with the support of the programme, the provision of free legal aid services for the citizens of North Macedonia has been consolidated. This framework an informational and awareness raising campaign promoting better access and more efficient free legal aid services for the citizens of North Macedonia has been conducted in close co-operation with the Ministry of Justice.
In the efforts to guarantee prisoners rights, the consolidation of External Oversight Mechanism and the awareness raising initiative to promote this mechanism have contributed to a better protection against the violations perpetrated by prisons police. Furthermore, in co-operation with the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions important progress has been identified towards addressing violent extremism and radicalisation in prisons.
To support the authorities in the fight against corruption and economic crime, key contribution has been provided in the effective implementation of the EU Directive and the Council of Europe Recommendation on whistle-blowers. In addition, consultations and guidance was provided to the authorities in the process of reviewing the draft amendments to Anti Money Laundry/Combatting the Financing of Terrorism Law, and related Strategy. Starting from this year, with the support of the programme a training centre within the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption of North Macedonia is being established, which will provide capacity building and knowledge tools in the framework of fighting corruption and economic crime.
Referring to the efforts in fighting discrimination and promoting diversity, assistance was provided to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in the process of integrating key standards and recommendations from the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), in the country reforms and policies to counter discrimination. Furthermore, key raising awareness initiatives have been introduced in various communities in North Macedonia to promote protection of rights of LGBTI persons, and fight hate speech.Focusing on the work to combat human trafficking in North Macedonia, the programme has provided important contribution in the process of improving the identification, protection of, and assistance to victims of human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, with a particular attention on children. During this period, support was given to the authorities in the process of ensuring effective legal aid and representation for the victims of domestic violence, while working together with civil society organisations to promote and raise awareness on the dangers of human trafficking for various vulnerable communities.
In the field of freedom of expression, key assistance was provided in promoting freedom of expression and freedom of the media in North Macedonia helping key actors in their endeavours to improve the application of European standards related to freedom of speech. Important consultations and expertise on the amendments to the Criminal Code of North Macedonia to ensure more safety for journalists, were conducted in co-operation with the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Justice. In addition, capacity building activities and knowledge tools have been shared with the community of legal professionals in North Macedonia aiming to improve the application of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Court case-law on freedom of expression in North Macedonia.
View original post here:
European Union and Council of Europe to further strengthen co-operation with authorities in North Macedonia towards consolidation of human rights...
- European Union's Crab Market Forecast to Grow at 1.7% CAGR Through 2035 - IndexBox - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- European Union's Cobalt Market Set for Growth to 41K Tons and $1.3B by 2035 - IndexBox - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- European Union's Clay Market Poised for Steady Growth With a 2.5% CAGR in Value Through 2035 - IndexBox - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- European Union's Vegetable Oils Market Poised for Steady Growth with 2.2% CAGR in Value - IndexBox - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- European Union's Denatured Ethyl Alcohol Market to Reach 2.4 Billion Litres and $2.9 Billion in Value - IndexBox - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- European Union's Copper Wire Market to Reach 2.8M Tons and $32.2B by 2035 - IndexBox - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- The European Union is moving towards the use of a common universal charger for electronic devices - Noticias Ambientales - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that pets transported in the hold count as luggage, not passengers. A Spanish woman was suing... - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- European Union's Plastic Pipe and Hose Market Set for Steady Growth With a 2.4% CAGR in Value - IndexBox - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- European Union's Titanium Market Set to Reach 123K Tons and $1.8 Billion by 2035 - IndexBox - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- Live event: CFI panel at the Montreal International Security Summit - European Union Institute for Security Studies | - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- European Union agrees on 1.5 billion defence industry programme to support readiness and Ukraine - Defence Industry Europe - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- From ceasefire to governance the EU steps that matter now - European Union Institute for Security Studies | - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- Wang Yi Holds Talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain Jos Manuel Albares Bueno_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of... - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- The leading economy of the European Union continued to weaken - - - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- WHO and the European Union launch collaboration to advance digitized health systems in sub-Saharan Africa - World Health Organization (WHO) - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- European Union featured prominently at Africa Climate Summit on the road to COP30 and AU-EU Summit - EEAS - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Visiting the European Union? Expect to Give Your Biometric Data. - The New York Times - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Rights group urges European Union to vote on Hungarys rule of law breach - Jurist.org - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- European Union Mulls Forced Tech Transfer for Chinese Firms - The Information - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- President of Slovakia: The European Union is jeopardizing the trust of the people in North Macedonia - European Newsroom - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- European Union's Headphone Market Set for Growth to 342 Million Units and $17.4 Billion by 2035 - IndexBox - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- European Union's Power Tool Market Set for Steady Growth to 202 Million Units and $11.9 Billion by 2035 - IndexBox - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- European Union's Powdered and Condensed Milk Market to Reach 3.5 Million Tons and $9.8 Billion by 2035 - IndexBox - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- French farmers and NGOs protest European Union's trade deal with Mercosur bloc - The Lufkin Daily News - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- The European Union will host a meeting of donor countries for the reconstruction of Gaza next November. - news.cgtn.com - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- The New York Times: Visiting the European Union? Expect to Give Your Biometric Data. - Fragomen - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Traveling to the European Union is about to get more complicated. Here's what you need to know - WMUR - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- European Union wants abortion to be 'central' to UN global security policy - liveaction.org - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Von der Leyen: BiH on the Doorstep of the European Union - Sarajevo Times - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- 'LGBTQ Nonsense, Only Two SEXES Exist'_ NATO Leader BLASTS European Union; Echoes Trump, Putin Stand - The Times of India - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- European Union's Loading Machinery Market Poised for Steady Growth With a 1.3% Volume CAGR - IndexBox - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- The European Union is introducing a new entry system - Online.UA - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- Traveling to the European Union is about to get more complicated. Heres what you need to know - CNN - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- European and World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October 2025: Joint statement by the High Representative of the European Union and the Secretary... - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Mexico Joins Canada, US, and Brazil in Bracing for the European Union Game-Changing Border Revolution EU Entry/Exit System Heres What You MUST Know -... - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Travelling to the European Union is about to get more complicated. Heres what you need to know - CTV News - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- The hypocrisy of the European Union is breathtaking - The Telegraph - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- European Union takes lions share in Trkiyes auto exports - Hrriyet Daily News - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- For the European Union, political trouble rises in the east - The Washington Post - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Charging infrastructure needs for battery electric trucks in the European Union by 2030 - International Council on Clean Transportation - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Greenland's leader hails European Union as trusted friend and urges investment in its minerals - The Journal Gazette - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Armenia shows political will to approach the European Union, we are ready to deepen cooperation: MEP - Armenpress - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- European Update | The Oireachtas National Parliament Office for the European Union - Houses of the Oireachtas - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Indonesia and the European Union Sign Free Trade Agreement - STiR Coffee and Tea Magazine - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- STATEMENT | European bishops urge appointment of EU Special Envoy for Religious Freedom - The Catholic Church in the European Union - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- European Union's Stranded Wire Market Set for Steady Growth with a 2.8% CAGR in Value - IndexBox - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- European Union's Wrapping Paper Market to See Modest Growth With a 1.8% CAGR in Value Through 2035 - IndexBox - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Breakdown of European Union CountriesPlus, Other Things to Know - TravelAwaits - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Jordan and the European Union Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthening Partnership in Justice and Security - jordannews.jo - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Israel and Iran on the brink: Preventing the next war - European Union Institute for Security Studies | - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- European Union's Beauty and Skin Care Market Set for Steady Growth With 5.6% CAGR in Value Terms - IndexBox - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Spain Calls for Repealing all Agreements between The European Union and Israel - - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- European Union's Cosmetics Market Poised for Steady Growth With a 3.1% Volume CAGR - IndexBox - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- European Union's Driving and Non-Driving Axle Market Set to Reach 2.8M Tons and $22.5B by 2035 - IndexBox - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Prime Minister Carney appoints the Honourable John Hannaford as Personal Representative to the European Union - pm.gc.ca - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- European Union's Iron and Steel Tube Fitting Market Set for Steady Growth with a 2.3% CAGR in Value - IndexBox - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- DOCUMENT | Note from the President of COMECE on the crisis in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan - The Catholic Church in the European Union - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- The European Union was designed for peace it is never going to be a war machine | Anand Menon - The Guardian - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Astria Therapeutics Now Enrolling HAE Patients in the European Union for the Phase 3 ALPHA-ORBIT Trial - Business Wire - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- EIOPA Raises Concerns Over Proposed European Union Climate-Reporting Scope Reduction - JD Supra - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- China, India, and the European Union Grapple with Critical Labor Shortages That Could Halt the Explosive Growth of the Global Travel and Tourism... - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- It's official - this is the new method they will implement to access the European Union that affects all those arriving from abroad from October 12 -... - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Foreign direct investment screening in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and the European Union: recent reforms - United States... - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Russian Foreign Minister Says NATO and the European Union Declared War on Russia - finchannel - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Tanzanian Defence Attach visits the European Union Military Assistance Mission - EEAS - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- European Union's Borates Market Set for Growth to 565K Tons and $459M by 2035 - IndexBox - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- European Union's Asphalt and Bitumen Market Set for Steady Growth with a 0.6% Volume CAGR Through 2035 - IndexBox - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- European Union's X-Ray Tube Market Forecast Shows Slowing Growth with +0.7% Volume CAGR to 2035 - IndexBox - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- European Union explores investment and cooperation in Tamaulipas - MEXICONOW - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- European Union and Russia battle over Moldova in elections that could define the future of both blocs - Gamereactor UK - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Russia was not admitted to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization the European Union resisted - - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- European Union Would Like Old Cars To Be Inspected More Frequently - Technology Org - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- European Union looks to drive down U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum - Washington Times - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Video Trump tells European Union nations: 'Your countries are going to hell' - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- Invitation: The European Media Freedom Act: a panacea for press freedom in Czechia, Germany and the European Union? - European Centre for Press and... - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- Joint communiqu - sixth trilateral meeting of the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations, New York, 21 September 2025 - EEAS - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- Apple continues to clash with European Union regulations - MarketScreener - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- The European Union and @_AfricanUnion strongly support the @UN, the backbone of our rules-based order. We are joining forces for peace, stability, and... - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- ASSEMBLY | Strengthening Europes mission: EU bishops to convene in Brussels on 1-3 October - The Catholic Church in the European Union - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]