Skopje, 25 October 2021 (MIA) – The government continues to be strongly committed to establishing the highest standards for rule of law and an independent judicial system, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on the occasion of the European Day of Justice (Oct. 25). “It is our choice for bold steps on the European path that introduce European standards and better life,” he wrote Monday in a Facebook post. The European Commission in its report on North Macedonia’s progress, Zaev said, noted bold and strong steps aimed at the fight against corruption and organized crime as well as the rule of law. “It is a strong signal and sign that reforms are on the right track and should be resumed,” the PM said. Zaev stressed that the country remains dedicated to reforms that produce concrete results. In his Facebook post, PM Zaev mentioned that the reformed Judicial Council dismissed 16 judges citing unprofessional conduct, stalking and sexual harassment are being introduced in the Criminal Code as offenses as a response to the abuse of online communication channels as the judiciary is being digitized. “Also, protection of journalist amid increased number of attacks is enhanced under new changes to the law, protection against violence of women is also strengthened, prisons are being reconstructed,” he concluded adding that the government also organized the 2021 census.