Rokas: Authority and Constitutional Court’s Resistance are extremely important for the rule of law

The reform of the constitutional judiciary is one of the most important because the Constitutional Court plays a very important role not only for ensuring the rule of law but also for the protection of European values, and the reform should respond to how to best protect the independence and integrity of the Constitutional Court in an environmental environment.

This was stated by Michalis Rokas, the European Union ambassador in the introductory speech of the wheeled table « Do we need a law for the Constitutional Court? » held in the Constitutional Court that aims to open a debate on the need to adopt a special law that would regulate the work of the Constitutional Court, through dialogue between representatives of institutions, the legal profession and the civil sector.

Rokas noted that the Constitutional Court is not just another institution in a democratic society, it is the protector of the constitution, legality and fundamental rights and freedoms of every citizen. His authority, impartiality and resistance are extremely important for the rule of law in the country, and emphasized a very important step for the country’s path to EU membership.

– Strengthening the Constitution is not only a formal demand for EU membership, it is a strategic investment in fair approach, in the rule of law, something that citizens need. It is a reform in which the Constitutional Court should also play a very important role. For these reasons, the EU supports the court in its work and strengthens its capacity. We support Northern Macedonia to build strong, independent and credible institutions – Rokas said.

He pointed out that it is not the EU to recommend whether or not to adopt a law on the Constitutional Court, as the EU supports the process that is transparent, inclusive and which relies on dialogue, which will eventually conclude confidence in the Constitutional Court, its independence and who will work in accordance with European standards and best practices.

Petra Drexler, the ambassador of Germany and Angela P. Ageller, US Ambassador.

German Ambassador Drexler in his address, among other things, referred to the influence of the current situation globally on democracy and the rule of law, and the reforms that have been recently implemented in the functioning of the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany, which should protect the court, especially in terms of election.

– Constitutional courts around the world play a very important role in ensuring the protection of basic rights, and the partition of the authorities. This encourages and promotes democratic society, supports the rule of law and therefore we cannot allow vulnerabilities in our highest courts. Different contexts, historical political and legal may be looking for a different answer to this question how we can protect our legal systems – said Drexler, expressing support for the process of reforming the constitutional judiciary.

President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova and Constitutional Court President Darko Kostadinovski also addressed the roundtable.

A presentation of the findings of the analysis of the need to pass a law on the Constitutional Court, developed as part of the EU-financed project, with speakers, Karsten Manka, Tim Leader, and Higher Legal Experts Martin Sopronov and Margarita Jaca Nikolovska are envisaged.

Judges Ana Pavlovska-Daneva and Tatjana Vasic-Bozadzieva will explain the views of the judges of the Constitutional Court, while opinions from legal professionals will share professors Tanja Karakamisheva-Jovanovska, Jeton Hasivari, Denis Presova.

From the civil sector, the views will be presented by Darko Avramovski from the coalition « All for Fair Trials » and Bojan Trpevski from the Association of Young Lawyers of Macedonia.