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EPI’s work is focused on the needs and constraints of North Macedonia, a country that awaited the start of the accession negotiations for more than a decade while experiencing a decline in support for European Union membership and political instability in recent years. Within its rule of law programme, it closely monitors the level of compliance with the rule of law principle in member states of the EU

This brief summarises the key developments about the rule of law in view of EU accession in North Macedonia from April to June 2023. It includes monitoring the fundamentals of EU accession, including key developments in the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform and chapter 23: judiciary and fundamental rights.

This brief summarises the key developments about the rule of law in view of EU accession in North Macedonia from January to March 2023. It includes monitoring the fundamentals of EU accession, including key developments in the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform and chapter 23: judiciary and fundamental rights.

This brief summarises the key developments in relation to rule of law in view of EU accession in North Macedonia for the period October – December 2022. It includes monitoring the fundamentals of EU accession, including key developments in the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, and Chapter 23: judiciary and fundamental rights.

The rule of law principle is one of the core values comprising the foundations of the European Union. It entails that all public powers act within the boundaries set by the law, in accordance with the values of democracy and respect for fundamental rights. While candidate countries must comply with this principle and adapt the functioning of their institutions accordingly, member states of the EU are also not exempt from this obligation, or the consequences arising from non-compliance.

Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights entail the right to freedom of expression, including the respect of freedom and pluralism of the media.

Article 49 TEU lays out the requirement for new members states: respect and promotion of EU values. Article 2 TEU/Article 19 TEU/Article 67 TFEU recognize that while states have different legal systems, they must respect common rule of law standards for assuring effective legal protection (effective remedy/fair trial). This right is entailed in Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Articles 6 and 13 of the European Convention on Human rights.

On March 30, 2007 the European Community signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which entered into force for the EU on January 22, 2011. UNCRPD recognises that disability is an evolving concept: “Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”

Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Article 16 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which entail the right to protection of personal data. Other than those provisions, the European framework for Data Protection also includes: • General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 • Law Enforcement Directive 2016/680 • Case law