Ensuring free access to public information is fundamental to upholding freedom of expression and fostering democratic governance. In North Macedonia, this principle is gaining renewed attention following the country’s ratification of the Tromsø Convention in 2024.

To reinforce these efforts, a roundtabletitled “Insights from the Administrative Court's case law (2019-2023) and the Tromsø Convention's impact on institutions’ transparency, took place today in Skopje. The event aimed to strengthen transparency and accountability in the country. Discussions highlighted key findings from the Analysis of the Case Law of the Administrative Court regarding the Law on Access to Public Information (2019-2023), providing insights into judicial trends, challenges, and recommendations for improving enforcement. Participants examined legal and institutional dimensions of access to information and discussed strategies to enhance compliance with international standards.

The event brought together  judges from the Administrative Court and the Higher Administrative Court, lawyers, representatives from civil society organsiation as well as the working group on the amendments of the Law on Free Access to Public Information, to discuss practical approaches to improving access and overcoming barriers. Two key panel discussions explored best practices in implementing the Tromsø Convention and the role of national institutions in ensuring free access to public information.

A Council of Europe international consultant shared practices from Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country that ratified the Tromsø Convention in 2020, offering valuable lessons on aligning national legislation with international standards. Consultants also shared insights on legal frameworks, transparency measures, and practical challenges in handling requests for public information as well as the case-law presented in the Analysis.

An open dialogue session enabled judges, lawyers, and journalists to exchange views on improving institutional coordination and addressing existing obstacles.

The roundtable concluded with a summary of key takeaways and proposed steps for better enforcement of access to information laws. Participants emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between institutions, legal practitioners, and the media to uphold transparency and accountability. The event reaffirmed the importance of free access to public information as a cornerstone of democratic governance in North Macedonia.

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”.