Macedonia Criticised for 'Disappointing' Progress on Corruption

The Group of States against Corruption, GRECO said in its second compliance report, published on Thursday, that Macedonia has made no substantial progress in implementing recommendations on preventing corruption among MPs, judges and prosecutors.

Calling the country's performance at this stage "clearly disappointing", GRECO urged the Macedonian authorities to take more determined and focused action to implement its recommendations to combat graft that were issued four-and-a-half years ago.

GRECO found that none of its recommended improvements in combatting corruption amongst MPs have been implemented even partially.

The only exception was the progress made on implementing a new code of conduct for legislators, which is now back on track again after the project was stalled at the end of 2016.

On the judiciary, the report noted "limited progress", citing the adoption of amendments to the Law on the Judicial Council in December 2017 and May 2018.

The report also said that there was "no meaningful development" aimed at strengthening the system of declarations of assets and interests for officials through the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, SCPC.

"Furthermore, the SCPC was itself recently embroiled in serious controversies, resulting in a majority of its members resigning amid allegations of mismanagement of assets," the report noted.

Macedonia this summer got a conditional recommendation for the start of its EU accession talks.

Provided that the country makes progress on several key issues, including the fight against corruption, it can hope to start accession talks next summer.