Back Strengthening judicial response to SLAPPs in North Macedonia

Strengthening judicial response to SLAPPs in North Macedonia

To strengthen the capacities of judicial actors to effectively address emerging challenges related to freedom of expression, particularly in the context of increasing pressure on journalists and media professionals, a training on freedom of expression and Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) was held in Skopje. Special emphasis was placed on identifying and responding to SLAPPs, which pose a significant risk to open public debate and democratic participation. The activity, supported by EU and Council of Europe, was organised in co-operation with the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors and brought together 30 judges and public prosecutors, with the aim of enhancing their understanding and application of European standards in this field.

Participants engaged in expert-led sessions covering key thematic areas, including how SLAPP lawsuits can undermine freedom of expression, as well as practical examples for identifying SLAPP indicators in judicial practice. The training also explored the balance between freedom of expression and professional responsibility in journalism, highlighting the role of ethical standards and due diligence.

Discussions addressed the scope and limits of freedom of expression, with a particular focus on the application of legal principles through the analysis of case law of the European Court of Human Rights. Through interactive exchanges and case-based learning, participants examined how European standards can be effectively applied in domestic judicial practice. This training marks the first in a series of capacity building activities during  2026, with three additional sessions to follow in Štip, Bitola, and Gostivar.

This initiative contributed to strengthening the role of the judiciary in safeguarding freedom of expression and ensuring a more enabling environment for journalists, in line with Council of Europe standards. It was implemented within the framework of the action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia”, under the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

Skopje, North Macedonia April 2026
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The action ‘Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in North Macedonia’ (PRO-FREX) enables the beneficiary institutions and civil society organisations in North Macedonia to progress towards meeting their reform agendas in the field of freedom of expression and freedom of media, in line with the European standards.

The action is implemented within the joint programme of the European Union and Council of Europe Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye running from 2023 to 2026 and aims to contribute to an improved environment for the exercise, in particular by journalists and media actors, of their rights of freedom of expression, in a more pluralistic and safer media environment, in line with the standards as set by Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

What are the goals and objectives of the action?

  • to promote freedom of expression and freedom of the media and to improve the application of European standards in the field.
  • to enhance the protection of journalists and contribute to the creation of an enabling, safer and more pluralistic media environment.
  • to strengthen the skills and knowledge of the actors who are responsible for applying the standards on freedom of expression as part of their daily work.

Who benefits from the action?

  • independent state bodies in the field of media regulation (the Agency for Audio and Audio-visual Media Services) and access to information and protection of information (the Agency for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information and the Personal Data Protection Agency).

  • associations of journalists and media actors in North Macedonia.

  • professionals such as judges, prosecutors, police officers, lawyers, broadcasters, journalists, other media actors.
  • the people of North Macedonia.

How does the action work?

  • by providing legal advice to improve the alignment of legal and regulatory frameworks to the relevant European standards;
  • by providing research and policy support to institutions and civil society organisations in the field;
  • by raising awareness among duty bearers and rights holders of the relevant European standards;
  • by offering capacity-building for the various professional categories, anchored in the European standards and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR);
  • by facilitating regional dialogue and exchange of good practices, in synergy with the regional action.

What do we expect to achieve?

  • The legal framework will be improved and the judicial application of the European standards on freedom of expression, access to information, data protection and protection of journalists will be enhanced;
  • the Media Regulatory Authority, the Personal Data Protection Agency, the Agency for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information, and the public broadcaster implement changes in their policies and practices in line with European standards;
  • Journalists’ safety will be strengthened in terms of addressing threats and attacks, as a result of the established domestic legal mechanisms to protect freedom of expression, in line with European standards.

What is the budget of the action?

  • The total budget of the action is 680,000 EUR
  • 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).

How to get more information?

 

About Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye

The “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye 2023-2026” 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.


 

PROJECT CONTACTS

Ana Funa                                     Project Assistant                        +389 2 3100 336                     contact