Freedom of association
New draft NGO law introduced into legislative procedure
A new draft Law on Associations and Foundations has been introduced into the legislative procedure. The draft was published on the electronic public consultation platform ENER in December 2025, and in-person public consultations were organised in several cities to gather input from civil society organisations and other stakeholders. Civil society representatives raised some concerns during the consultation process, including issues related to the proposed model for public financing of civil society organisations. Despite this, they assessed that the draft law does not introduce provisions that would violate the freedom of association. However, the draft does not address the legal status or regulation of informal groups, leaving this area outside the scope of the proposed legislation.
Civil society scores win for Roma rights in landmark suit
In December 2025, the Court of Appeal in Skopje ruled in a landmark class action lawsuit brought by the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association (MYLA). Upholding the lower court’s judgment in favour of the plaintiffs, the court confirmed the state’s responsibility for systemic failures that left individuals, particularly Roma, without access to personal documentation.
The ERRC and MYLA welcomed the judgment as “a major step towards protecting the rights of unregistered persons, especially Roma, in the Republic of North Macedonia.” According to civil society watchdogs, systemic gaps in civil registration in North Macedonia have historically affected Roma disproportionately, depriving them of access to personal documentation and exposing them to the risk of statelessness. This situation mainly affects Roma who have difficulty proving their place and time of birth, often lack identity cards, live in informal settlements or structures, or are homeless without a permanent address. As a result, Roma without proper personal documentation become legally invisible to the state, facing obstacles in accessing employment, health and social protection, housing, and infrastructure.
The court found that the competent authorities had failed to implement procedures prescribed by law for the registration of persons not recorded in the birth registry. The court found that this institutional inaction resulted in discriminatory treatment and limited access to fundamental rights. The judgment emphasised that birth registration is not a discretionary administrative matter but a legal obligation of the state, directly linked to the exercise of basic rights.
Freedom of peaceful assembly
Environmental protests against cement plant in Skopje
On 31st January 2026, the civic initiative “Stop Usje” organised a protest in Skopje against air pollution linked to emissions from the Usje cement plant. Protesters gathered in front of the Government building, calling on the authorities to strengthen environmental oversight and ensure stricter monitoring of industrial pollution sources. The protest was part of ongoing civic mobilisation around air quality concerns in the capital, with participants raising public health concerns related to prolonged exposure to pollution. No incidents were reported.
Power outage, tensions surround protests against power plant construction
In February 2026, residents of the Blatec area mobilised against the planned construction of a photovoltaic power plant project backed by the company Energy Lux. They raised concerns over potential environmental impacts and the transparency of the project approval process.
In mid-February, opponents of the power plant began a blockade of the construction site, with residents forming a human shield to block construction machinery from accessing it, citing fears of environmental and other consequences. According to footage shared on social media and media reports, the situation was at times tense, with company representatives attempting to prevent protesters from filming and both sides exchanging heated remarks. However, no violence or arrests were reported.
Prior to a major protest announced for 20th February, the Blatec village experienced a power outage that lasted approximately five hours, which residents publicly linked to tensions surrounding the project.
Freight transport operators protest new EU entry regulations
On 25th January 2026, truck drivers and transport companies announced a regional protest involving freight transport operators from North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. As part of the protest, freight traffic at several border crossings in North Macedonia, including Deve Bair, Delchevo, Novo Selo, Dojran, Bogorodica, Medžitlija, Kjafasan, Debar Blato, and Blace, was expected to be blocked to cargo vehicles for up to seven days.
The protest was organised in response to the introduction of the new EU Entry-Exit system (EES) that counts the time drivers spend in the European Union, which transport operators argue significantly shortens their legal working period and increases transport costs. Carriers are seeking a solution similar to that which applies to cabin crew in air, ship, and rail transport, which would allow a concession for freight transport as well. Passenger traffic was not expected to be affected, and the measures targeted only freight transport.
On 29th January, carriers from North Macedonia announced they were halting their protests, following a European Commission announcement of a strategy aimed at addressing restrictions on professional drivers’ stays in the Schengen area.
In a statement published on the Facebook page of the “Makam Trans” Association, the decision to end the blockade was attributed to an official notification from North Macedonia’s Minister of Transport, Aleksandar Nikoloski, indicating that the European Commission had adopted a new visa strategy intended to resolve the issue affecting professional drivers.
New traffic safety laws spark protests
In February 2026, protesters blocked highways in Skopje and Bitola, demanding the return of vehicles confiscated under the new Safe City traffic enforcement system. Introduced in December, the automated camera network, which operates without real-time human oversight, recorded 110,000 violations in its first 24 hours. Under the legal amendments introduced by the Safe City programme, authorities can now directly confiscate vehicles for a wide range of offences.
The measures particularly affect North Macedonia’s marginalised Roma community, as obtaining a driving licence requires valid documentation and completed primary education. In a statement, the Roma Foundation for Europe said the policy would have a disproportionate impact on Roma communities, where unemployment stands at 73% and many rely on informal work such as scrap collection, recycling, street vending, or informal taxi services. In such conditions, the Foundation described vehicle confiscation as threatening “economic collapse”.
The Roma Foundation linked the unrest to long-standing exclusion, noting that Roma communities have faced systemic barriers to documentation, education, and employment. It also criticised media coverage of the protests, describing it as politically biased and “sensationalised.”
While no restrictions on the freedom of peaceful assembly were reported during the protests, the Independent Police Union (IPU) later filed criminal charges against two individuals over remarks made during the demonstrations. Following a protest in Bitola on 3rd February, footage circulated widely online showing protesters saying they would physically attack police if their vehicles were confiscated. Despite a public apology from one of those involved, the union filed charges for “endangering security” under Article 144(3) of the Criminal Code and called for an immediate response from the Prosecutor’s Office, including questioning the suspects and considering detention measures to prevent repetition of the alleged threats.
Freedom of expression
Constitutional Court rejects journalist’s complaint over criminal conviction
On 21st January 2026, the Constitutional Court rejected a request by journalist Aleksandar Mitovski for protection of the freedom of public expression under Article 110 of the Constitution.
In 2020, Mitovski received a suspended six-month prison sentence for publishing a transcript of the testimony of a businessman in a high-profile racketeering case on the Infomax portal. The verdict was widely condemned by journalists and press freedom watchdogs in North Macedonia.
The Court found that the restriction on expression was prescribed by law and pursued a legitimate aim, namely the protection of confidential information, the secrecy of pre-investigative proceedings, the presumption of innocence, and the authority and impartiality of the judiciary. It held that the applicant’s status as a journalist and the public interest in the case did not justify the publication of material deemed part of a confidential procedure. The decision confirmed a restrictive interpretation of freedom of expression in cases involving the disclosure of prosecutorial documents.