North Macedonia: “Supporting the free access to information”

Details: Published: November 13, 2025

Twinning project “Supporting free access to information in North Macedonia”

EU Twinning Light Project
May 2025 – March 2026
IRZ: Lead partner
Budget: 250,000 Euro
Responsible at IRZ: Gereon Müller-Chorus

This EU Twinning Light project contributes to the implementation of the Public Administration Reform (PAR) Strategy 2023-2030, particularly in the area of transparency and accountability of public institutions. With the overarching goal of strengthening the right to free access to public information, it supports North Macedonia on its path to EU membership. Both the ratified Tromsø Convention, which establishes the right of access to official documents, and the EU Open Data Directive (2019/1024) play a role here.

IRZ's partner is the Agency for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information (ASPI). It is responsible for implementing the Law on Free Access to Public Information (LFAPI), monitoring public institutions, deciding on complaints against rejected information requests, responding to individual information requests and systematically publishing information on the websites of public institutions. As part of the project, the range of digital services offered to increase citizen participation is to be improved, and employees will receive training on optimising so-called harm tests.

As part of the programme, numerous missions by German experts will take place in Skopje to develop strategies, revise draft legislation, develop manuals and training materials, and train staff in collaboration with Macedonian partners.

The activities will be supplemented by two study trips, one to Estonia on proactive transparency (responding to individual requests for information) and one to Germany on reactive transparency (systematic publication of information on the websites of public institutions).