{"id":14973,"date":"2024-08-21T12:35:55","date_gmt":"2024-08-21T10:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transparency.mk\/?p=14973"},"modified":"2024-08-22T12:41:33","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T10:41:33","slug":"national-integrity-system-assessment-public-prosecutor-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/transparency.mk\/en\/2024\/08\/21\/national-integrity-system-assessment-public-prosecutor-2\/","title":{"rendered":"National Integrity System Assessment – Public Prosecutor"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the beginning of 2024, Transparency International-Macedonia published the report: \u201cNational Integrity System of North Macedonia\u201d, prepared within the project \u201cEU4 Rule of Law: Citizen Engagement for Public Integrity (CEPI) in the Western Balkans and Turkey\u201d, funded by the European Union and the Government of Switzerland. The National Integrity System contains 15 pillars that include the main institutions that are part of the anti-corruption system.<\/p>\n

The Public Prosecutor is the pillar with the lowest score within the National Integrity System with overall score 38.9.<\/p>\n

The capacity score (50) consists of score for the resources and the independence of institution.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The public prosecutor\u2019s office (PPO) is the core institution in the criminal justice system in the Republic of North Macedonia. The legal framework provides appropriate salaries. However, there are significant resource gaps in the prosecution, with the budget not meeting the legally required minimum percentage. There is also a shortage of human resources, with many positions remaining unfilled.<\/p>\n

There are comprehensive laws to ensure the independence of the prosecution. However, the public prosecutor is appointed by the Assembly, potentially subjecting that person to political influence. The prosecutorial council is an independent body to appoint and dismiss public prosecutors. In practice, prosecutors are often removed from their positions before their term ends, and appointments are criticised for non-transparent and under political influence.<\/p>\n

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In the governance part (41.7) are analyzed transparency, accountability and integrity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The legal framework for the governance mechanisms needs improvement. The law and the code of ethics for public prosecutors, in combination with the Law for the Prevention of Corruption, provide mechanisms to ensure integrity. However, they do not cover hospitality or reimbursements for privately sponsored trips, and the ethics council’s activities are not transparent or well-documented.<\/p>\n

The role (25) includes the corruption prosecution.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prosecutorial achievements in corruption cases are limited, and convictions in high profile corruption cases are rare. Corruption cases often face a statute of limitations due to lengthy legal processes. There are ongoing investigations and prosecutions related to corruption, but very few high-value assets were confiscated.<\/p>\n