Skopje, 5 July 2024 (MIA) - European Union Ambassador David Geer says 'legal nihilism' may seem attractive but it is not the most efficient way of proceeding regarding the Government's announcement over dissolution of the Judicial Council and the Council of Public Prosecutors.

Ambassador Geer told 360 Degrees it is clear there needs to be substantial reform in the area of rule of law and judiciary and welcomes the fact the Government has put it high up on its priorities and expects details discussions on these issues, adding there is wealth of material showing how this needs to move forward. 

"We have the peer review of last year, which contains 40 recommendations, and there are many other documents - the screening process, the country report - there is a wealth of material available to say how to move forward. We look forward to discussing this in detail," says Ambassador Geer.

We will have to discuss with the government, he adds, what the language about dissolving the Judicial Council and the Council of Public Prosecutors means in practice.

"Of course, there is a temptation to apply an approach of what I call 'legal nihilism', in other words, sweeping everything away and starting afresh. And may seem attractive and superficially seems attractive. But experiences show this is not the most effective way of proceeding. With the Judicial Council, it's clear what needs to be done. We have the recommendations, so our advice on this is to proceed, have a discussion, let's talk to all the stakeholders, let's work together, let's build on what has been achieved," says Geer.

He notes that the Judicial Council has adopted an action plan to implement the 17 recommendations from the peer review, which fall within their power to do so.

MIA file photo