Saveski: EU report accurately reflects the state of the judiciary

Nenad Saveski, the State Public Prosecutor, said the European Commission's assessment that there has been no progress in the fight against corruption and only limited advance in the judiciary reflects the real situation and will not demotivate the prosecution. He said the office will concentrate on the shortcomings identified in the report. ([enlargement.ec.europa.eu](https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/dfdfce41-4d0c-4369-97c8-3b106aeef6aa_en?filename=north-macedonia-report-2026.pdf))

Prosecutor's response and priorities

Saveski agreed with the Commission's criticism that provocative public statements by senior politicians — including talk of plans to "cleanse" the judiciary and personal attacks on judges and prosecutors — amount to unacceptable influence and intimidation that undermines judicial independence. He added, however, that such statements have not affected the work or decisions of the prosecution. ([enlargement.ec.europa.eu](https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/dfdfce41-4d0c-4369-97c8-3b106aeef6aa_en?filename=north-macedonia-report-2026.pdf))

On the role of the prosecution he said: "Absolutely, I cannot but agree with that finding. It is unacceptable. Such practice must stop. I have said that before: the struggle between political parties and, more broadly, party politics — whether the ruling party or the opposition — the field for their mutual proving can in no case be the judiciary. Such political statements can in no way have influence. We cannot prevent them. We ignore them because the nature of our work is not connected to politics. Our work is based on the law, the Constitution, international agreements." — Saveski. ([mia.mk](https://mia.mk/en/story/nenad-saveski-elected-as-chief-state-public-prosecutor))

Saveski also noted that the prosecution handles cases of public interest but that the volume and expectations may exceed current capacities. He pointed to shortages of prosecutors and administrative staff, saying these limit the speed and efficiency of processing cases though, he stressed, not the quality of legal work. ([jorm.gov.mk](https://jorm.gov.mk/javen-obvinitel/))

The European Commission's country report highlights that high-level corruption cases in North Macedonia still suffer delays and frequently risk becoming time-barred, which feeds a public perception of impunity. One of the report's recommendations urges improved results in high-level corruption cases through timely, professional and transparent proactive investigations, prosecutions, final convictions and effective confiscation of assets. The Commission also flags asset confiscation as one of the weakest links in the anti-corruption chain. ([enlargement.ec.europa.eu](https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/dfdfce41-4d0c-4369-97c8-3b106aeef6aa_en?filename=north-macedonia-report-2026.pdf))

Saveski said the prosecution will use the report's findings as a practical checklist for reforms and case work, focusing on areas where the Commission located shortcomings rather than treating the document as a discouragement.

Photo: press material from the event