Recently, the European Commission published the 2024 Rule of Law Report, which, among other countries, also covered the Republic of North Macedonia. In the section addressing the anti-corruption legal framework just as in previous years whistleblowers were also included. The report notes that the protection of whistleblowers needs to be further aligned with European standards.
In the fifth evaluation round of GRECO on the topic “Preventing Corruption and Promoting Integrity in Central Government,” a recommendation was emphasized to significantly strengthen the measures for the practical implementation of the Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers within the police, and to make appropriate information publicly available.
Although the Ministry of Justice formed a working group[1] back in 2022 to draft a new Law on Protected Reporting and Whistleblower Protection, it has still not been adopted, thereby continuing the weak implementation and protection of whistleblowers in the country.
The real picture regarding the situation of whistleblowers can best be seen in the Annual Report of the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption.
The report presents the status of activities undertaken regarding the implementation of the Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers and the relevant bylaws by the Commission and other public sector institutions. In the semi-annual reports submitted for the first half of 2024, three (3) institutions reported that authorized persons in those institutions received a total of three reports from whistleblowers, on which actions and measures were taken in accordance with the Law and bylaws. In the second half of 2024, two (2) institutions reported receiving three whistleblower reports and acted accordingly.
The report presents a very low number of whistleblower reports, which is a consequence of the low level of awareness about the Law on Whistleblower Protection as well as its practical implementation. Lack of public trust in the functioning of state institutions, fear of retaliatory actions after reporting irregularities, and insufficient protection are just some of the reasons discouraging whistleblowers from speaking out.
Mancevski’s Fight Against Corruption of the Soul
Recently, a positive development in this area was marked by the initiation of the long-delayed film project by director Milcho Manchevski. Milcho Manchevski is the most renowned film director in our country, with internationally acclaimed works. However, instead of continuing solely with his cultural mission, in recent years, Manchevski took on a new role, that of a whistleblower.
Over the past several years, Manchevski has been in the public spotlight due to the suspension of funding for his most recently approved project by the Film Agency.
Determined, Manchevski continued his fight before the competent courts to exercise his rights. After several years of legal proceedings, at the very end of 2024, he received favorable rulings from the Administrative Court regarding the irregularities he had pointed out within the Film Agency. He received another confirmation concerning the frozen funds from the Film Agency from the Civil Court in Skopje at the very beginning of 2025.
Following all legal actions and court decisions, the Film Agency signed a contract for the next film project, which had been delayed due to the frozen funds. Additionally, it signed a contract committing to fulfill its financial obligations for the previously initiated film project, including paying part of the interest awarded by the court.
Manchevski’s position as a whistleblower also revealed the weaknesses of the current Law on Whistleblowers, where, de facto, retaliation was carried out against Manchevski, while protective mechanisms were lacking.
The consequences of this case prompted the addition of new provisions aligned with the new EU Whistleblower Protection Directive during the drafting of the new Law on Protected Reporting and Whistleblower Protection, which is still in the process of being adopted.
Transparency International – Macedonia encourages all members of our society to report irregularities, just as Manchevski himself did. As he himself says:
“The picture is beautiful, but the word for me is freedom.”
According to the Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers, in addition to submitting internal reports within the institution where irregularities are being pointed out, a whistleblower may also file a report with institutions designated as external reporting channels. These institutions include the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the relevant Public Prosecutor’s Office, the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, and the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia. Additional information regarding the designated contact persons for receiving whistleblower reports through these external channels can be found at the following link.
Transparency International Macedonia, as a organization with the longest-standing commitment to protecting whistleblowers and the first initiate the adoption of the Law on Whistleblower Protection, provides you with a safe and anonymous way to report through our GlobaLeaks reporting platform. This platform allows you to communicate anonymously with our Legal Center. Once you submit your report, you will receive an automatically generated 16-digit code, which you will need if you wish to follow up, communicate with us, or view our response and actions taken regarding your report.
[1] https://ener.gov.mk/Default.aspx?item=pub_regulation&subitem=view_reg_detail&itemid=74474
