GOOD GOVERNANCE IN TRANSPARENCY OF INSTITUTIONS IN NORTH MACEDONIA AFTER THE PRESPA AGREEMENT

Abstract

The Prespa Agreement (2018) marked a transformative political juncture for North Macedonia, not only resolving a longstanding bilateral dispute but also reactivating the country’s Euro Atlantic integration trajectory. This paper examines the extent to which the post Prespa reform agenda has advanced good governance through increased transparency and institutional openness. Drawing on qualitative analysis of policy documents, reports from international organizations, and national legislation, the study evaluates progress in public access to information, digital governance and anti corruption mechanisms.
Findings indicate that while notable improvements have been made particularly in aligning legal frameworks with EU standards and expanding open data initiatives implementation gaps persist. Institutional transparency is often constrained by administrative inefficiencies, political polarization, and limited enforcement capacity of oversight bodies. Moreover, despite formal commitments to openness, public trust in institutions remains fragile, reflecting a disconnect between reform rhetoric and practical outcomes.
Based on the methodology we have envisaged, such as comparative analysis, content analysis of documents reports, empirical and statistical data, the paper argues that sustainable progress in good governance requires not only legal compliance, but also a profound transformation of institutional culture and accountability practices.
Strengthening independent institutions, enhancing digital transparency tools, and fostering active civil society engagement are identified as critical drivers for consolidating democratic governance. The study contributes to broader debates on EU conditionality and governance reform in Western Balkan states, emphasizing the importance of transparency as both a normative principle and a functional prerequisite for democratic consolidation.