It seems that the digitalization of public services in the Republic of Northern Macedonia will not be a dead letter on paper. [1] At today’s session, the Government adopted the Information with planned activities for digitalization in the judiciary for 2021. The Information is based on the intention of the Government of RSM to start, and later to complete, the digitalization of the Macedonian judiciary.
“The plan contains activities that will take place in several phases, starting with changes in the existing legislative framework, as a basis for taking procedural actions (e-mail and e-delivery) with the participants in the proceedings, ICT tools for remote trials or performing only some evidence thus, by providing the courts with appropriate ICT equipment, internet connection and other necessary devices for preparing electronic documents, using digital certificates (signatures) and defining a digital identity for the parties, lawyers and other participants in the procedure, such as and promotion of AKMIS, provision of sufficient IT staff and their continuous training in the use of the system and equipment.
In addition to equipping more than 100 courtrooms in 34 courts in Northern Macedonia (27 basic courts, four appellate courts, the Administrative Court, the Higher Administrative Court and the Supreme Court), the digitalization plan in the judiciary envisages equipping a courtroom within the Academy. for judges and public prosecutors, as well as in Idrizovo Prison. The equipping of the courts for online trial is planned to be realized by the end of 2021 “, explained the Government.
This begins the digitalization of the judiciary, which will simplify the process of easier access to justice for lawyers and all interested parties. Also, the costs that are allocated for the entire judicial system are likely to be drastically reduced.
