Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

Representatives of institutions, ethnic communities and international partners gathered in Skopje to help shape the revised Action Plan on Advancing the Rights of Persons Belonging to Communities, an important policy document supporting social cohesion and North Macedonia’s EU accession process.

Organised by the Agency for Community Rights Realisation in partnership with the Council of Europe and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the consultation provided a platform for an open dialogue between representatives of various ethnic communities and public stakeholders. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions on societal improvements and the protection of community rights, contributing valuable recommendations toward shaping a more inclusive society.

Opening the event, Dalibor Kitanović, Director of the Agency for Community Rights Realisation, welcomed attendees and underscored the importance of the Forum in addressing key topics. He invited participants to share their perspectives candidly, emphasising the intention to create a revised Action Plan that genuinely reflects the needs and aspirations of all communities in North Macedonia.

H.E Michalis Rokas, EU Ambassador to North Macedonia, welcomed the inclusive and meaningful process and the close cooperation of Council of Europe experts in the process and expressed hope that the plan would help foster cohesion, inclusiveness and mutual understanding in society – as cornerstones of a united and prosperous European future.

Oleg Soldatov, Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje, stressed the importance of the revised Action Plan as a significant milestone and supports North Macedonia’s efforts to fully implement European standards and that he hopes that this consultation process will lead to a cohesive and inclusive Action Plan that will deliver tangible results.

The Forum featured a presentation on the methodology and structure of the revised Action Plan. International and domestic experts, alongside participants, discussed its contents and the current landscape of community rights. A summary of key outcomes was produced, and participants were invited to submit further written feedback for inclusion in the next stage of revision.

This initiative was supported by the action "Combating hatred and intolerance in North Macedonia", under the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Türkiye".