Back From Dialogue to Action: Strengthening Journalists’ Safety in North Macedonia

From Dialogue to Action: Strengthening Journalists’ Safety in North Macedonia

A free press depends on the safety of those who work within it. In North Macedonia, main stakeholders are taking concrete steps to strengthen the safety of journalists in reality. Representatives of public institutions, the judiciary, prosecution, media and journalists’ organisations, civil society and other relevant stakeholders came together in Skopje to discuss priorities and practical measures for strengthening the protection and safety of journalists in North Macedonia.

The Thematic Inter-Professional Workshop on the Protection and Safety of Journalists was organised by the Ministry of Interior in co-operation with the Council of Europe, bringing relevant actors around the same table to contribute to the ongoing development of a National Action Plan for the Protection and Safety of Journalists. The workshop formed part of a broader consultation process aimed at ensuring that future measures respond to challenges identified by institutions, journalists and media actors and can be effectively implemented in practice.

Opening the workshop, Muhamed Ismaili, Assistant Minister for Public Relations and Strategic Issues at the Ministry of Interior, and Oleg Soldatov, Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje, highlighted the importance of institutional co-operation and sustained dialogue with the media community in creating an environment in which journalists can perform their work safely and freely. The discussions were framed by Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4, structured around four key pillars – prevention, protection, prosecution and promotion of information, education and awareness raising – as well as the objectives of the Council of Europe “Journalists Matter” Campaign for the Safety of Journalists.

The consultation focused on concrete challenges and possible measures, including more consistent implementation of existing legal safeguards, timely institutional responses to threats and attacks, improved co-ordination between law-enforcement and prosecution authorities, responses to online threats and gender-specific risks, and stronger institutional data collection and monitoring. Particular attention was also given to strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), specialised training for relevant professionals, digital and psychological safety, and mechanisms for providing journalists with information on the handling of reported cases.

The exchange provided stakeholders with an opportunity to comment on the relevance, comprehensiveness and practical applicability of the proposed measures and to identify issues requiring further consideration. The discussion addressed, among other matters, prevention and protection mechanisms, investigation and prosecution of threats and attacks, institutional responsibilities, and ways of strengthening inter-institutional co-operation.

The contributions gathered during the workshop will feed into the next stage of preparation of the National Action Plan. The input will be systematised and incorporated into a draft, accompanied by a more detailed implementation matrix covering responsible institutions, partners, timelines, resources, indicators and means of verification.

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 activity also contributes to the objectives of the Council of Europe “Journalists Matter” Campaign for the Safety of Journalists.

Skopje, North Macedonia 22 September 2026
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Roma Integration – Phase III is a Joint Project of the European Union and the Council of Europe. It aims to strengthen the capacity of governments in the Western Balkans and Türkiye to effectively address the multifaceted challenges faced by the Roma community through the implementation of comprehensive public policies. These policies encompass critical areas such as housing, employment, civil registration, as well as the green and digital transition.

The project will also assist the progressive implementation in the Western Balkans beneficiaries of the “EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation 2020 - 2030”; the 2019 Declaration of Western Balkans partners on Roma integration within the EU enlargement process (Poznan Declaration) and subsequent commitments made by the governments at the annual ministerial meetings and endorsed within the Berlin Process Summits; and progress on fulfilment of Roma inclusion commitments taken under the negotiations Chapter 23. The project will also ensure that the necessary capacity is built at central level for the proper implementation, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting, the reinforcement of the co-operation with local authorities and the progressive alignment with all elements of the EU Roma inclusion policy.

The project will primarily focus on three areas of support:

  1. Mainstreaming of Roma issues in relevant public policies and the fight against antigypsyism;
  2. Support to Roma socio-economic integration and Roma equality in the areas of housing, education, employment, health, civil registration, and in the green and digital transition;
  3. The reinforcement of the institutional capacities of the governments to tackle challenges faced by Roma.

The specific outcomes aimed to be achieved through this project are as follows:

(1) Mainstreaming of Roma issues in relevant public policies and the fight against antigypsyism:

  • Antigypsyism is recognised and addressed through legislation, communication tools and institutions.
  • Institutional capacities of public servants are built on encountering antigypsyism.

(2) Socio-economic inclusion:

  • Employment of Roma is encouraged both in public and private sector including by piloted promising practices and through concrete measures to promote the formalisation of employment.
  • Legalization of informal settlements progresses in the Western Balkans and Türkiye is encouraged to be included among the priorities of the central-level governments in close collaboration with the civil society.
  • Civil registration is resolved for Roma in need through partnership with the governments, relevant local authorities, and civil society organisations.
  • Actions are mainstreamed into the Green Agenda Action Plan for the Western Balkans and the digital transformation agenda.

(3) Institutional capacities:

  • Policies and institutional arrangements dealing with Roma issues exist in the region.
  • Relevant monitoring, including in the national statistical offices, and reporting mechanisms are developed and properly functioning.
  • Budget for Roma planning and reporting is improved in the Western Balkans and Türkiye.
  • Regular regional co-operation ensured, and policies mainstreamed in socio-economic spheres, including regional high-priority issues and actions addressing the specific challenges of Roma.

The project will be implemented in seven Beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Kosovo[1], with the duration of 3 years (1 May 2023- 30 April 2026) and is co-financed by the European Union and Council of Europe and implemented by the Roma and Travellers Team, Council of Europe.

This initiative represents a continuation of the preceding two phases implemented by the Regional Cooperation Council, co-funded by the European Union and Open Society Foundations. The aim of the Phase III of the project is to further advance the integration and empowerment of the Roma community by addressing critical issues they face.

The project is based on the Council of Europe's Human Rights Approach principles, focusing on participation and inclusion, equality and non-discrimination, accountability, transparency, and access to information.

 

[1]This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

Contacts of the project team based in Strasbourg:

 Marina VASIC, Programme Supervisor

 Cristina MARIAN, Senior Project Officer

 Fanny Hoertz, Project Assistant

Contacts of the Project Officer for North Macedonia and for Montenegro:

 Mersiha USEIN, based in the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje

Contacts of the Project Officer for Serbia and for Bosnia and Herzegovina:

 Dragana JOVANOVIC ARIJAS,  based in the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade

Contacts of the Project Officer for Albania and for Kosovo [1]:

 Xhesika KORRA, based in the Council of Europe Office in Tirana

  Irena Ordev, Roma Integration Project Assistant, based in the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje