In an interview with mkd.mk, Minister of Justice Igor Filkov, referring to the reform agenda and the laws prepared by the Ministry of Justice, says that all deadlines have been fully met, and for some it was even completed earlier.
"Our work is not measured by declarative commitments, but by concrete results. And the facts say that all the laws that are part of the reform framework have been prepared or are in the final stage of adoption. One of the key laws is the new Law on Judicial Council, where we introduce clear criteria, open procedures, and accountability mechanisms. The conditions for membership are specified, the dismissal is regulated, transparency is strengthened. This is a blow to clientelism. The Judicial Council will no longer be an arena for secret deals, but an arena for integrity and expertise. The law has been sent for an opinion of the Venice Commission", emphasizes Filkov.
ENER has also published the Draft Law on the Public Prosecutor's Office, where a special budget is foreseen for the first time.
"If a prosecutor depended on political will for resources until yesterday, that will end tomorrow. The Prosecutor's Office will get its own fiscal independence. It is not just a financial measure – it is an institutional shield. Transparent selection procedures and disciplinary mechanisms are also guaranteed. This is a new beginning.
The plan and preparation include the proposal for the Law on the Judicial Budget, the proposal for the Law on the Council of Public Prosecutors, the proposal for the Law on the Public Prosecutor's Service, amendments to the Electoral Code, with the support of ODIHR, laws regulating the salaries of judges, public prosecutors, and the public prosecutor's service (deadline June 2025), the Law on Pardons, the Law on Expertise, the Law on Notaries, the Law on Enforcement, the Law on Probation, the Law on Enforcement of Sanctions, the Law on Property Confiscation in a civil procedure, the Personal Data Protection Act", Minister Filkov points out.
Regarding the Electoral Code, the Minister says that preparations are being made, a process is being initiated, but there must be political maturity. However, it should be taken into account that the electoral legislation requires a broad political consensus, and this will require a constructive approach and support from the key political factors in the country. Something that unfortunately in the previous election cycles resulted in discrepancies between the draft version of the law prepared with the support of ODIHR and the adopted Code by the Parliament.
Regarding the question - why is there a difference in terms? Some deadlines are specified in the Reform Agenda, others in the Annual Program of the Government, the Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov, clarifies that the reform agenda provides by when the Parliament must pass the law - that is the deadline for full adoption. On the other hand, the Annual Program of the Government determines the deadline by which the Ministry should draft the law and submit it — first to ENER (the public consultation system), and then to the Government. This is a way to ensure sufficient time for public debates, opinions from the Venice Commission, government procedures and parliamentary debates.
The Minister of Justice Igor Filkov is convinced and believes that the citizens' trust in the justice system will be restored.
"I believe - and not only as a Minister, but as a citizen. Justice and responsibility will not come by themselves, they are the result of hard, consistent and honest work. Our obligation is to set the standards, to ensure transparency, but also to be vocal when there are abuses. Citizens deserve institutions that function, courts that judge fairly and prosecutions that act indiscriminately. It is not idealism – it is our task. And we will finish it", said the Minister of Justice, Igor Filkov.
Watch the entire interview at the following link: