North Macedonia

Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje

Journalists and media professionals in North Macedonia now have a practical guide to help them recognise, prevent and respond to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), strengthening their ability to protect freedom of expression and continue reporting on matters of public interest.

Prepared under the European Union and Council of Europe action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia”, the Guide aims to help journalists identify the characteristics of SLAPPs at an early stage, understand how these abusive legal proceedings operate and access practical guidance on legal and professional protection.

SLAPPs are abusive legal actions intended to silence critical voices and discourage reporting on matters of public interest. Although they are formally presented as claims to protect reputation or other rights, their real purpose is often to impose financial, professional and psychological pressure on journalists and media outlets, creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression.

The Guide provides a comprehensive overview of the concept of SLAPPs, their main characteristics and indicators, relevant international case law and examples from the domestic context. It also covers the new anti-SLAPP provisions introduced in the Law on Civil Liability for Insult and Defamation, together with practical recommendations on prevention, responding before and during court proceedings, psychological support and available resources for journalists.

The publication comes at a time when European mechanisms to address abusive litigation are being strengthened, including through the European Union Anti-SLAPP Directive and the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 on countering the use of SLAPPs.

By providing practical guidance and accessible legal information, the Guide helps strengthen the resilience of journalists and media professionals and supports a safer environment for independent reporting in North Macedonia.

This initiative is implemented by the Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression within the framework of the action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia”, under the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

The Guide is available in Macedonian language and can be downloaded here.