The Center for Legal Research and Analysis, as part of the “Project for Good Environmental Management” project supported by the British Embassy in Skopje, held the first focus group on the preparation of a new set of criminal provisions in the new Criminal Code in the Marriott Hotel on November 9, 2021. regarding the protection of the environment with the presence of civil organizations that have been active for many years in the fight for the preservation of the environment. The focus group was in co-organization with the Blueprint group for justice reforms, where as CLRA representatives, they participate in the working group for amendments to the criminal code.
The focus group itself was conceived as an open discussion on the topic: “New and amended criminal provisions in the field of environmental protection”. In the introductory part, welcoming speeches were given by the program manager at CLRA, Nikola Jovanovski, and representative of the Blueprint group, Goce Kocevski. Mr. Jovanovski introduced the attendees to this component of the project and elaborated that in cooperation with three experts, a proposal for changes to criminal provisions proposed by the working group for changes to the Criminal Code, as well as a proposal for new criminal provisions in the area of the environment, was drawn up. following the examples of the surrounding countries, but also the EU countries whose legislation would be applicable in our country as well.
Mr. Kocevski introduced the attendees to the work of the Blueprint group, consisting of 7 organizations, which aims to monitor justice reforms and participate directly in the processes with the intention of articulating the needs of the entire civil sector. Bearing in mind that the Blueprint group is not only part of the working group for amendments to the Criminal Code but also part of the working group working on amendments to the Law on Criminal Procedure, he emphasized that every proposal, recommendation and idea is more than welcome to determine the shortcomings in the criminal legal protection of the environment.
In the second part, the two legal experts, lawyer Emil Miftari and prof. Dr. Olga Koševaliska and technical expert, biologist Ana Čolović Lesoska present the analysis of the proposed criminal provisions in relation to this issue, their shortcomings, suggestions for overcoming them, as well as new proposed criminal provisions. After each provision and proposal for its modification, it was discussed with the attendees about their views and suggestions. In addition, the working materials were distributed to all present in order to be able to submit their comments in writing within 7 days.
The discussion met with many positive comments about the work done by the experts, but also resulted in a fruitful discussion with many ideas from the attendees.
In terms of further activities, on November 19, 2021, the CLRA will hold the second focus group with the members of the working group for amendments to the Criminal Law, where the analysis of the three experts will be presented together with the proposals received from civil society organizations from the first focus group.