Ensuring strong legal safeguards and effective media regulation is essential for protecting freedom of expression and countering threats to independent journalism. The Workshop on ‘Advancing Media Regulation in North Macedonia – Alignment with EU Norms’, brought together for 3 days media professionals, lawyers, judges, policymakers, and local and international experts to address key challenges and propose concrete solutions for strengthening media regulation in the country.
The workshop organised by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, and the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM), welcomed prominent representatives, including Stefan Andonovski - Minister at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of North Macedonia, Zoran Ljutkov - Minister at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of North Macedonia, Dajanco Eftimov, State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice.
A major focus of the workshop was Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)—a growing challenge for journalists facing legal threats aimed at suppressing investigative reporting. The session dedicated to SLAPPs featured representatives from the Ministry of Justice, legal experts, and investigative journalists, as well as insights from the EU and Council of Europe’s joint action ”Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia (PRO-FREX)”, which works to enhance legal protections and institutional responses to such cases.
During the discussion, the PRO-FREX action reaffirmed its commitment to protecting journalists through, based primarily on the Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States:
- Legislative improvements to strengthen safeguards against abusive legal actions
- Capacity-building initiatives to equip journalists and legal professionals with tools to counter SLAPPs
- Advocacy for anti-SLAPP policies in alignment with European and international standards
- Support of the Journalists Matter: Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists
As part of its regional efforts, the PRO-FREX Western Balkan action, has produced a Regional Baseline Assessment on legislative and policy needs for implementing Council of Europe and European Union standards on countering SLAPPs. Additionally, it has developed a training module designed to help legal professionals recognise and respond to these lawsuits effectively.
A key outcome of the workshop was the adoption of a policy brief highlighting the need for:
✔ Legal reforms introducing stronger protections against abusive lawsuits.
✔ Judicial training to ensure courts recognise SLAPPs and dismiss them at an early stage.
✔ Support mechanisms for journalists facing legal threats, including access to legal aid.
✔ Harmonisation with European standards, ensuring that North Macedonia’s media regulation aligns with the EU’s approach to press freedom.
Beyond SLAPPs, the workshop explored the role of self-regulation in enhancing media credibility, including discussions on:
- Voluntary registration of online media and content creators.
- Proposed amendments to the Law on Media, particularly regarding mandatory online media registration.
The AJM and the media regulator will play a key role in facilitating these processes, ensuring a balance between transparency and freedom of expression.
The PRO-FREX action will continue working closely with the AJM, the media regulator, and other key stakeholders to implement these recommendations and strengthen freedom of expression in North Macedonia. The workshop represents a significant step forward in aligning North Macedonia’s media policies with European standards by enhancing media regulation, reinforcing journalistic protections, and advancing European standards.
The action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia”(PRO-FREX), implemented by the Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression, is part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye 2023-2026”.
