In the framework of the project: “Integrity Watch in the Western Balkans and Turkey: Civil society combating corruption with political integrity data” was developed the report: Political Integrity Rules Assessment in North Macedonia. Within the report was analyzed the accessibility to open data which are ensuring political integrity. The systems that are enabling open data are important in order to assess the possible risks of corruption and conflict of interests. This can contribute to improvement of political integrity regulations and better access to data to all relevant stakeholders that will help in holding the governments accountable. The research contains findings about declaration assets, conflict of interests, access to data related to political financing and awarding of public procurement contracts and exploration of mineral goods. The research assesses the strengths and weaknesses, availability of data and recommendations for improvements.
Publication can be seen on the following link: https://transparency.mk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/political_integrity_rules_assesment_in_north_macedonia_eng.pdf
The methodology for this assessment is based on the Integrity Watch framework developed by the Transparency International Secretariat (TI-S). It is designed to evaluate the political integrity regulations in selected countries, with a specific focus on asset and interest declarations, political finance, and public contracting and licensing. The aim is to identify regulatory gaps, assess the effectiveness of existing frameworks, and provide actionable recommendations to improve transparency and accountability.
The report focuses on three key areas:
• Asset and interest declarations
• Political finance transparency
• Prevention of favoritism in public procurement and licensing
Where progress is happening:
- Strong legal frameworks are in place
- Oversight institutions are adopting digital tools
- Civil society is actively shaping reform efforts
Where action is still needed:
- Public access to beneficial ownership data
- A modern, open-data platform for political finance
- Stronger capacity and authority for oversight bodies
“Commitment without action is just words. Real integrity is built on open data, strong laws, and collective responsibility,”— Marija Sunchevska, author of the assessment
The project is financially supported by the European Union and the regional project SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans, which is implemented by the Center for Civil Society Promotion (CPCD) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) from North Macedonia and the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) from Albania, and is financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway.
