A morning media briefing was held to present the findings of the PAR Monitor 2024/2025.

The meeting was attended by representatives from TV Sitel, and MRT. The EPI team was represented by Julijana Karai, Senior Researcher and Vaska Ristovska, Project Officer. It was highlighted that North Macedonia has established a regulatory framework that promotes transparency and inclusiveness in the preparation of planning documents and legislation for PAR; however, in practice, further improvements are needed. In particular, it is necessary to increase transparency in the work of the working groups, including the establishment of a clear and open procedure for selecting their members, as well as the publication of their composition and the results of their work.

Although consultations with non-state actors exist, the process needs to become clearer, more comprehensive, and more accountable, with greater proactiveness and broader involvement of stakeholders through the use of all available communication channels. Feedback remains the weakest link; comments from civil society organizations should be publicly visible, with clearly identified authors and detailed explanations of how they were considered and whether they were accepted or rejected.

With regard to the structures for monitoring and coordinating PAR and public financial management, it is recommended to increase transparency, improve the procedures for the selection and participation of civil society organizations, hold meetings more frequently, and ensure better coordination of the planning and monitoring processes of reforms, particularly in horizontal areas.