The Ministry of Justice / Directorate for execution of sanctions (MJ/DES) of the Republic of North Macedonia plays a notable role in the process of the country´s preparations for its European Union (EU) accession. As accession negotiations depend on the progress made in key areas such as the judicial system. The North Macedonian reform of national penal legislation and the judicial system in general has passed a lot of efforts in the last years. A lot of money has already been invested especially in the area covering the national penitentiary system, for instance through the loan of the Development Bank of the Council of Europe with regard to further improvement to the infrastructure of the prison system. However, there are constant challenges in the light of on-going reforms. Therefore, Germany and The Netherlands support the MJ/DES in order to improve the overall situation regarding the execution of sanctions, the improvement of the conditions for prison sentences, but also from the aspect of increasing the use of alternative measures into practice.

In this Twinning project the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) and the Dutch Center for International Legal Cooperation work together to assist the MJ/DES in the development of the penitentiary system.

The kick-off meeting of this Twinning project took place on the 21st of November 2018 in Skopje Macedonia.

Link to article by the IRZ

https://www.irz.de/index.php/en/247-mazedonien-eu-projekte/1979-macedonia-strengthening-of-the-penitentiary-system-and-the-probation-service