The overall objective of the Court Modernization Project is to further the development of the rule of law in Macedonia by assisting the Macedonian judiciary to develop into a stronger, more effective and independent branch of government and to improve the efficiency and performance of the Macedonian courts.
To meet these goals the project focuses on three areas:
1. Legislative Reform,
2. Court Administration and Management, and
3. Legal Training
The project works with the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary to carry out legislative and structural reforms to address the weaknesses in the judiciary and overcome the key procedural impediments for efficient and timely dispute resolution and enforcement of court decisions. Key law reform includes the Law on Independent Court Budget, Civil Procedure Law, Law on Enforcement, Constitutional Amendments, Law on Courts, Law on Republic Judicial Council and Law on Misdemeanors.
The project assistance is also targeted at improving of the court administration and management at all levels within the court system. At national level this includes assistance to the Administrative Office of the Court Budget Council to develop its capacity to effectively manage the financial, human, information technology (IT) and other resources of the courts. At the lower level courts, the project works with ten basic courts (Bitola, Prilep, Ohrid, Struga, Gostivar, Tetovo, Skopje2, Kriva Palanka, Kocani and Stip) on reducing case backlogs, increasing case disposition rates and improving court users’ satisfaction. To improve public access to justice the project implements minor court facility renovations, furnishings of intake centers, courtrooms and provides security and information technology equipment.
The project works on increasing the capacity of judges and court staff to more effectively perform their functions by organizing and supporting training courses, seminars, conferences, public discussions and study tours. The project has also provided technical assistance and support to the Center for Continuing Education of judges to increase their capacity to provide training to judges and other legal professionals and to help the Center grow into a National Training Institute.
This project is implemented by DPK Consulting.
For more information:
U.S.Agency for International Development
U.S Embassy, Samoilova 21,1000 Skopje, Macedonia
Telephone: +(389) 2 310 2000 Fax +(389) 2 310 2463
USAID Mission contacts:
Kathy Stermer
E-mail: kastermer@usaid.gov
Antoaneta Skartova
E-mail: askartova@usaid.gov
USAID Development Outreach and Communication office
Biljana Velickovska, DOC Specialist