Beneficiaries and partners of the EU and Council of Europe joint action on “Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media in North Macedonia - JUFREX” confirmed their commitment to support the future efforts towards strengthening freedom of expression and freedom of the media in North Macedonia, in line with European standards. This was underlined during the Second Steering Committee meeting of JUFREX action in North Macedonia that took place on 16 February 2021 in a form of online meeting, attended by key representatives of European Union, Council of Europe and action’s beneficiaries (Academy of Judges and Public Prosecutors, Association of Journalists of Macedonia, Ministry of Interior, Bar Association, Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and Faculty of Law “Iustinianus Primus” – Skopje).

Ms. Lejla Dervisagic, Head of Operations at the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje, opened this online meeting by emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression as one of the basic human rights and its relevance in one democratic society. To that end, JUFREX action and its results are of great importance towards ensuring freedom of expression in North Macedonia.

Mr. Freek Janmaat, Head of Section, Economic issues, Institution-Building, Cross-Border Cooperation, EU Delegation in Skopje, addressed the participants and pointed out the important role JUFREX action plays in ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of the media through the Council of Europe expertise and practices which is complementary to other ongoing EU projects on both national and regional level.

Main interventions and key results achieved during the last year were presented and discussed with the participants stressing the challenges faced by COVID-19 pandemic. The Monitoring and Evaluation expert of JUFREX action in North Macedonia presented the results and identified the successful adjustment of the action’s workplan to the conditions imposed by the pandemic, as well as the achieved results.

Some of the main activities and tools developed by JUFREX during this period are:

• Translation of various relevant documents and recommendations of the Council on Europe on freedom of expression in times of crisis;
• Updated Handbook on freedom of expression for JUFREX certified trainers and adjusted to the Beneficiary-specific legislation in North Macedonia;
• New set of presentation tools (ppt presentations based on the Handbook) translated and adjusted to the Beneficiary-specific legislation in North Macedonia;
• New JUFREX / HELP course on Freedom of expression translated and adjusted to the Beneficiary-specific legislation in North Macedonia;
• New JUFREX / HELP online course on Protection and safety of journalists translated and adjusted to the Beneficiary-specific legislation in North Macedonia;
• Training of trainers on Freedom of expression;
• Webinars with the Association of Journalists of Macedonia;
• Workshops, publication of study on pluralism of media ownership and translation of relevant Council of Europe publications for the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services;
• Visibility campaign on social media.

All these modern and interactive tools for advanced adult-learning developed under JUFREX, provide not only information on the standards on freedom of expression and media but also clear guidelines for their correct interpretation and implementation. Such tools are intended for various target groups including judges, prosecutors, media lawyers, police officers, but also law and journalism students, journalists, other media actors and representatives of civil society and other stakeholders.

All JUFREX tools and materials are developed in light of gender related aspects , while increasing sustainability by  the ownership of JUFREX deliverables that will remain with the Beneficiaries in North Macedonia. In addition to discussing the success of the action so far, the meeting focused on paving the way forward to successful overall completion of the action to the benefit of all stakeholders.

The Action “Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media in North Macedonia” is part of the  joint European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022” programme.