Documents: Fundamental rights - Human rights

This brief summarises the key developments in relation to the rule of law in view of EU accession in North Macedonia for the period January–March 2024. 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 the rule of law in view of EU accession in North Macedonia for the period October–December 2023. It includes the monitoring of 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 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a specific instrument for monitoring human rights situations in all United Nations (UN) member states. It provides an opportunity for all countries to share the activities undertaken to improve human rights and overcome challenges in this area. The ultimate goal of the UPR is to improve the human rights situation in each country, with significant consequences for people worldwide. The UPR is designed to encourage, support, and expand the promotion and protection of human rights in practice.

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 delves into the critical juncture facing the European Union as it grapples with challenges to the rule of law amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics and discussions on future enlargement. Recent proposals from the Franco–German expert group and the European Parliament aim to bolster enforcement mechanisms and streamline decision-making processes to address the rule of law breaches effectively. However, achieving a consensus on these reforms presents significant challenges amidst divergent Member State perspectives. Despite the hurdles, reform initiatives present opportunities to fortify the EU’s commitment to the rule of law, necessitating sustained discussions and diplomatic efforts.