Combating Hatred and Intolerance in North Macedonia

Back New study maps progress and gaps in anti-racism policies in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership region

Irena BABUSHKOVSKA

Modified 10 Days ago.

New study maps progress and gaps in anti-racism policies in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership region

Across the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership region, important laws and policies have been adopted to combat racism and discrimination but putting them into practice remains a challenge. Victims still need stronger protection and easier access to effective remedies. These are among the key findings of a new comparative study on anti-racism, published with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe. The study reviews the current state of the anti-racism efforts across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. It identifies significant progress in the efforts to fight racism and intolerance, while points out the need for stronger legal and institutional safeguards from the public authorities in respective Beneficiaries. The study recommends better co-ordination among institutions and public actors working to combat racism underlining that mandates of the actors need to be clear and co-operation among relevant domestic stakeholders to be reinforced in support of a more effective implementation of anti-racism policies.

The analysis highlights the continued challenges in the collection and use of disaggregated equality data on racial and ethnic discrimination. Such data collection remains limited in several Beneficiaries. Without reliable data, governments cannot develop evidence-based policies while victims may find it harder to access legal remedies.

Laws and institutions are only part of the solution. Public awareness, education and meaningful participation of affected communities matter just as much. When civil society and affected communities help to shape anti-racism policies, these policies are more likely to reflect people’s experiences, priorities and needs. Progress in these areas can contribute to stronger democratic resilience, greater social cohesion and the better protection of human rights.

The EU integration and enlargement processes for all the Beneficiaries offer an important opportunity to build on this progress. Anti-racism is closely linked with the EU acquis, and in particular relevant to Chapter 23 in the negotiation process focusing on judicial and fundamental rights. As the study assesses comprehensive, well-resourced and participatory anti-racism plans, can help beneficiaries in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership region align more closely with European anti-racism standards and ultimately build more inclusive and equal societies.

This study was conducted within the action “Promoting equality and combating racism and intolerance in the Western Balkans” and the project “Promoting equality and non-discrimination: towards more resilient and inclusive societies”, which are part, respectively of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programmes “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and “Partnership for Good Governance”.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

22 October 2026

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This action offers assistance in improving the record of fighting discrimination, hate speech and hate crime in North Macedonia Combating discrimination and hate speech are essential in protecting human rights and are also very closely connected to the EU assession processes. This action offers unique approach to tackling these areas and supports the strengthening the capacity of the key beneficiaries and stakeholders to better address issues related to anti-discrimination, combating hate speech and protecting rights of LGBTI persons in line with the standards and recommendations set by the Council of Europe – especially those of the European Commission on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), as well as to support North Macedonia's alignment to European standards in the field of fundamental rights.

What are the objectives of the action?

The main objectives of the action are:

To support institutions’ efforts and reforms to develop harmonised institutional approach to tackle discrimination and hate speech
To increase the awareness of the general population in North Macedonia regarding the dangers of hate speech and the different tools that can be used to prevent and combat it

Who benefits from the action?

Public institutions and related actors in the field in North Macedonia will benefit from the technical assistance and raising awareness initiatives, so they can contribute towards improving the anti-discrimination policies, and policies addressing hate speech and hate crime, as well as its redress mechanisms.

The action final beneficiaries are the people of North Macedonia and the vulnerable communities such as LGBTI, smaller ethnic groups, etc., whose protection of human rights will be improved.

How will the action work?

The action builds on the work done and results achieved under the previous phase of the Horizontal Facility programme in line with the focussed points in the field of racism and intolerance in Europe as outlined in the Annual Reports of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI).

The action provides capacity building initiatives adapting existing tools and methodologies of the Council of Europe, technical support as part of North Macedonia’s EU accession process, and awareness raising on combatting discrimination and promoting diversity towards youth and the general population

The action is working with Government representatives in charge of combating discrimination and hate speech; Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination; law enforcement officials, judiciary and legal professionals and civil society organizations and youth activists.

What do we expect to achieve?

Public institutions improve their record of reforms to combat discrimination, hatred and racism in line with European standards
Equality Bodies and relevant institutions in North Macedonia improve their capacity in combating discrimination in line with ECRI standards and recommendations and EU anti-racism action plan.
North Macedonia’s central and local level institutions improve the fight against hate speech and hate crime and strengthens victims’ protection
The people in North Macedonia and in particular vulnerable groups are more aware of the dangers of hate and racism to cohesion of societies and the way to address them.

What is the budget of the action?

The total budget of the actions is 450,000 Euros.

The budget allocated to the overall Horizontal Facility programme amounts to ca. 41 million EUR (85% funded by the European Union, 15% by the Council of Europe)

About the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye

The “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” is a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe that enables the Western Balkans Beneficiaries and Türkiye to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with the European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.