Nordic Support for Progress of North Macedonia
The Government of Norway has decided to fund a
sub-regional programme “Nordic Support for Progress in North Macedonia” to be
implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The
project consists of a socio-economic development support to the more
undeveloped parts of the country and also envisages support to the Macedonian
authorities responsible for leading the renewed efforts on the EU accession
process.
The Government of Norway has allocated funding for the
implementation of the Project in Macedonia during 24 months.
The Overall Objective is to contribute to a more
balanced socio-economic development and contribute to the implementation of the
Stabilization and Association Agreement and EU accession negotiations
priorities.
Specifically, the programme has objectives at the
local and national levels i.e. locally, to increase employment opportunities,
support social cohesion as well as to enhance local infrastructure in the less
developed areas with a focus given to the inclusion of youth, women and
vulnerable groups in the labour market. Nationally, the programme aims at
supporting the government to improve its capacity for EU integration and
government reform agenda in the accession process
All Project activities will be undertaken in
partnership and cooperation with national and local institutions, with the aim
of allowing them to adopt/adapt the legal requirements and, where relevant, EU
accession criteria. This will ensure national ownership and support the
development of national capacities.
Background
Information - in relation to assignment
The purpose
of Result 3 “Supporting the government reform agenda in the accession
process”
is to provide support to relevant national
institutions in charge of alignment of national legal acts with the EU acquis
and to contribute to further building of capacities of the central coordination
structures and relevant national structures for successful carrying out of the screening
process (explanatory and bilateral screening). The overall process
is coordinated by the Secretariat for. European Affairs (SEA), as main
coordination body in the accession negotiation process.
The National
Programme for Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA), as key strategic and planning
document in the accession negotiation process is planned, monitored and updated
on regular basis. The NPAA is prepared and monitored by established 33 working
groups, for each chapter of the acquis.
The NPAA comprises a comprehensive analysis of the EU Acquis, listing
the short- and medium-term priorities in the planning reforms, policies and
strategies, plan and schedule for harmonization of national legislation with
the Acquis, administrative structures for implementation of legislation in
terms of capacity building, establishment new/or restructuring the existing,
human resource development and training needs, as well as financial resources.
The NPAA is revised every year, taking into account the European Commission Progress
Reports and possible updates of the EU acquis.
Ministry of Justice is responsible for the Reform of the judicial sector and is leading the approximation process for the Chapter 23 - Judiciary
and fundamental rights. The improvement of the judicial system and
its functioning is a key prerequisite for Euro-Atlantic integration, democratic
development, embedding rule of law and good-governance principles and the
development of North Macedonia as a multicultural society of citizens with
equal rights and freedoms. Independent and impartial judiciary and institutions
able to deliver effective, quality and equitable justice is a central postulate
of rule of law and the humane and sustainable development of the Macedonian
society.
In November 2017, the
Government of North Macedonia adopted “Strategy
for Reform of the judicial sector for the period 2017-2022 with an Action Plan
(AP)“. Measure 5.4.1-6 Revision of the civil liability system for insult
and defamation, from the AP, is one of the key measures in the civil area. The
measure foresees improvement of the Law Civil Liability for Defamation and
Insult provisions on the basis of international standards and referral to
European Court of Human Rights case law. The activity is envisaged in the
National Programme for Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA) (revision 2019 - 2021) in the political criteria section and is linked
with Chapter 23 - Judiciary and fundamental rights. The Law is
planned to be adopted by the Government in the first quarter of 2020.