Openness Index for the Local Government for 2022

The Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society, within the framework of the USAID Project for Civic Engagement, assessed the state of good governance in the local self-government units (LGUs) in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2022. The assessment is the result of a conducted research based on the Openness Index.

The 2022 survey found that most municipalities are not doing enough to meet openness standards. The results in the districts indicate that LGUs apply low standards for consultation, transparency, monitoring and control in their operations.

The average score of local self-government units according to the Openness Index survey for 2022 is 27%. This is an indication of a low level of openness in the operation of the local government in the Republic of North Macedonia. The municipalities have the highest average score for the indicators in the area of transparency, 34%, and the lowest average score in the area of awareness, 13%, the same as last year.

The openness index showed that in the measurement for 2022, the municipalities of Valandovo (62%), Prilep (59%), Bitola (57%), Ohrid (54%), Kočani (52%), as well as Veles and Delčevo, Demir Hisar and Krushevo (50%) and Vasilevo (47%) have the best results, while the lowest ranked are Dolneni (9%), Vrapčište (8%), Karbinci (7%), Butel (6 %) and Sopište (5%).

The full report for 2022 is available in Macedonian and Albanian.

Evaluating North Macedonia’s Media Law Reforms—A Partial Step Toward European Standards

North Macedonia is undergoing reforms to its media legislation, aiming to align with European Union (EU) standards. The Metamorphosis Foundation welcomes the initiative of the Government of Republic of North Macedonia to align national media legislation with European standards, particularly in the context of Chapter 23 of the EU acquis and the European Media Freedom […]

DISINFORMATION TRENDS AND NARRATIVES IN THE WESTERN BALKAN REGION, MEDIA MONITORING REPORT OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2024

In the final quarter of 2024, the information environment in the Western Balkans was heavily saturated with disinformation, particularly anti-democratic narratives featuring anti-Western and anti-EU rhetoric. These were largely fueled by the region’s domestic political developments, from protests to electoral cycles, as well as the U.S. presidential election. Although disinformation about Russia’s war against Ukraine […]

STATE FUNDING IN NORTH MACEDONIA: MAKING THE SYSTEM FAIRER, STRONGER, AND MORE TRANSPARENT

This policy document builds on the findings of an in-depth study on paid political advertising during the 2024 parliamentary elections.[1] It aims to identify sustainable and realistic, long-term solutions to improve the system of political financing in the country. And, whilst we have focused on the use of indirect state funding through media – inclusive […]