A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe monitored the application of the Charter in North Macedonia, from 20 to 21 April 2021.

The delegation, comprised of the co-rapporteurs on local democracy, Harald Bergmann (Netherlands, ILDG) and Zdeněk Brož (Czech Republic, ECR) had meetings with the authorities of North Macedonia at local and national level to examine the implementation of the Charter. The last report and recommendation about local democracy in the country were adopted in 2012. All meetings will be done remotely due to the current health crisis.

Meetings were held with the National Delegation of North Macedonia to the Congress, the Association of the Units of Local Self-Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Parliament, the State Audit Office, the Ombudsman, the Ministries of Local Self-Government and of Finance and the Constitutional Court. The co-rapporteurs also met the mayors of Skopje, Vinica and Centar Župa.

The ensuing report will be considered by the Monitoring Committee.

North Macedonia ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1997. Countries that have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter demands the implementation of a minimum set of rights which constitute the core basis for local self-government in Europe. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures that these principles are respected in the 47 member States of the Council of Europe.

Contact:

Stephanie POIREL, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Secretary to the Monitoring Committee, Phone: +33 (0) 3 90 21 51 84,
e-mail: [email protected]