Michalis Rokas, the European Union ambassador to North Macedonia, has raised strong concerns about the political pressure on the justice system. According to him, to move forward on the European path, the country must guarantee an independent judiciary, with sufficient human resources and full financial support.

During a conversation on the show “Rishtazi” on KohaCast, Rokas emphasized that the next EU Report on the state of the rule of law highlights positive steps, but at the same time points out essential shortcomings that continue to undermine the efficiency of justice.

Commenting on the content of the document, the ambassador acknowledged that progress has been made, especially with the approval of a series of essential laws. However, he noted that unresolved problems remain troubling. “Interference from politics is one of these issues. It is vital that the judiciary operates uninfluenced and produces results independently,” Rokas stated. He added that lack of staff and funds are two additional challenges that directly affect the system’s performance. “If we aim for a functional justice system, it must have the proper personnel and budget, as envisioned by the laws and the Constitution. These are the first three pillars that require urgent attention and are reflected in our annual report,” the diplomat continued.

Asked about the prime minister’s stance, who has stated that courts do not need more money, Rokas underlined that Brussels maintains an unchangeable line and that institutions must adhere to European standards. “Our position has been very consistent. Our reports every year speak bluntly about the necessity of strengthening the rule of law. Laws must be adopted according to regular procedures and this is part of the reform plan. At the same time, we ask politicians and party forces to distance themselves from comments and assessments of the work of judges and prosecutors,” he emphasized.

Furthermore, the ambassador stressed that the independence of justice is not ensured only through normative changes, but requires tangible investments in human resources and technological infrastructure. “The system must be able to recruit and retain young judges and prosecutors, as well as have the logistical and technological equipment to function. In my meetings on the ground, I have often heard complaints that justice is delayed or cannot be properly administered due to administrative obstacles. These problems are interconnected and cannot be solved separately,” he declared.

Finally, Rokas recalled that the current legal framework determines that the judiciary’s budget must be in accordance with constitutional norms. He pointed out that currently, the system benefits from only about 50 percent of the funds it is entitled to under the highest law. “We are fully aware that, at this moment, the judiciary receives only half the funding guaranteed by the Constitution,” concluded the top EU representative, Michalis Rokas.

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Venko Filipçe, leader of LSDM, declared that obstructing the country’s European path constitutes a kind of coup d’état.

During today’s session of the National Council for European Integration, he stressed that reports openly speak of the government’s influence over the judiciary, the undermining of its independence, poor performance in the fight against corruption, as well as the penetration of the “Serbian world” and, consequently, Russia into this part of the Balkans and Europe.

According to Filipçe, our country has no other path or alternative but membership in the European Union.

He raised the question whether the deliberate blocking of the European integration process does not represent a form of coup d’état, given that it is clearly known what steps need to be taken. At the same time, Filipçe noted that not a single chapter has been opened, while in a single day four candidate countries—Albania, Montenegro, Moldova, and Ukraine—held intergovernmental conferences. He stressed that they managed to overcome even the problem with Hungary after the change of government there, an issue related to minorities, solving it through dialogue and negotiations.

The LSDM leader noted that our progress is blocked and that we remain the only country without an open negotiating chapter, while these four candidate countries will undoubtedly be the next members of the European Union.

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“Our priority is to finalize membership talks with Montenegro and we aim to make substantial progress in the dialogue with Albania, Ukraine and Moldova. Naturally, we also strongly stand behind North Macedonia and its path towards the European Union. In cooperation with European partners and the institutions here in Skopje, we will examine opportunities to advance this process,” declared the Irish Ambassador, Brendan Ward.

Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Viktorija Trajkov, described as encouraging the fact that the region’s integration continues to hold a priority place on the Union’s agenda. “Our executive is fully committed to the European path. Our approach leaves no room for dilemmas: membership is not a formal commitment, but a journey that requires measurable results, institutional accountability and continuous fulfillment of the commitments undertaken,” emphasized Trajkov.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, Antonio Milloshoski, pointed out the fundamental importance of the EU’s competitiveness for the country and the entire region. “For us it is vital that the integration of the Western Balkan states into the common European market proceeds at a rapid pace. We believe that a deeper involvement of the region will give additional weight to the Union’s competitiveness and will strengthen the economic and trade potential of the continent,” added Milloshoski.

In parallel, four intergovernmental conferences were held yesterday in Brussels for the opening or advancement of chapters with Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova. EU Ambassador Rokas expressed hope that North Macedonia will also be included in this wave soon, officially starting its membership negotiations.

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