European Commission: Judiciary problems remain and the fight against corruption is stalled
The Commission says limited or partial progress was made in most chapters over the past 12 months, while corruption and judicial independence remain key concerns.
The European Commission's new report on North Macedonia finds limited or partial progress in most accession chapters over the past 12 months, while key areas such as judicial independence and the fight against corruption remain problematic.
On corruption the report says the country made no progress in the last 12 months and highlights that cases of high-level corruption continue to be delayed, which "fuels the perception of impunity."
It also notes specific legal concerns: amendments to the Criminal Code adopted in January 2026 addressing abuse of official position did not adequately respond to changes introduced by the 2023 law.
Key findings on institutions, rights and reforms
The Commission records no progress on media freedom and points to shortcomings in the conduct of elections, noting a lack of alignment with and application of European standards and OSCE recommendations. Basic rights require attention: anti-discrimination legislation has not been harmonised with EU law, and gender-based violence remains a serious human-rights issue in the country.
Judicial reform has produced some steps forward, but the report warns that the judiciary's financial independence and autonomy are undermined by interference from other branches of government and by a severe shortage of funds and human resources.
On the economic criteria, North Macedonia is well prepared in developing a functional market economy and has achieved limited progress in financial control, yet reforms in public procurement show no progress. The Commission also stresses that bilateral agreements with neighbours — including the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness with Bulgaria — must be implemented in good faith by both sides. It further notes there have been no attempts to adopt the constitutional amendments to include Bulgarians in the constitution despite previous commitments, and that the historical commission produced no results during the past 12 months.
Photo: press material from the event
