Strengthening the knowledge and skills of civil servants in North Macedonia, to apply laws related to access to information more effectively, directly contributes to greater transparency, accountability, and democratic governance. To assist this process, a specialised training for civil servants on “International Standards and National Regulations on Access to Public Information” was held in Skopje, with the support of the joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia (PRO-FREX)”,

The event brought together civil servants responsible for providing public information from the Government, the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministries. They deepened their understanding about the international and domestic frameworks governing the right to access public information. The trainers guided participants through key international standards, including the Tromsø and Aarhus Conventions and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and linked them with the Law on Free Access to Public Information in North Macedonia.

The training is part of the Council of Europe’s comprehensive Training Programme on Access to Information in the Context of Freedom of Expression, developed under the EU and Council of Europe joint regional action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in the Western Balkans (PRO-FREX)” and tailored to different professional groups, including judges and prosecutors, civil servants, and journalists.

The interactive programme combined lectures, case studies, group discussions, and practical exercises, helping participants develop practical skills to apply access to information laws effectively in their daily work. By strengthening the knowledge and skills of civil servants, the training contributes to greater transparency, accountability, and alignment with international standards, supporting North Macedonia’s democratic development and institutional integrity.

The activity takes place very close to the “International Access to Information Day” marked every 28 September, to symbolically mark and underscore the importance of transparency as a pillar of freedom of expression. This significance is further highlighted by North Macedonia’s ratification of the Tromsø Convention in November 2024, reinforcing its commitment to advancing the right of access to official documents in line with European standards.

This training was organised  in the framework of the EU and Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and its action on “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia (PRO-FREX)”, implemented by the Council of Europe Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression.