almanac on security sector oversight in the Western Balkans

• Insufficient cooperation among oversight institutions and security actors (e.g. between
Ombudsman and the SICPS or between parliamentary committees and the
DSCI) hinders smooth flow of information and prevents more joint cooperation
activities.
• MP’s lack of expertise on security sector oversight remains a problem despite constant
calls for strengthening this shortcoming by engaging more staff and resources.
What will dominate the security sector arena in coming years, especially in oversight
and accountability, are efforts of state institutions to implement relevant laws, guaranteeing
full usage of oversight mechanisms. Parallel to this, the role of civil society
will become more prominent, contributing to the effective control by scrutinising
Macedonian security actors.
7 . Recommendations
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7.1. Parliament
• When political parties decide on appointing MPs to committees, particularly those
dealing with oversight of intelligence, they should ensure the MPs have genuine
interest in the particular field and possibly legal experience.
• Committee members should undergo specially designed training, particularly in
budget scrutiny; intelligence services functioning; peace support operations.
• Parliament should hire advisors to assist the Committee for Supervision of the Interception
of Communications, the Committee for Defence and Security and the
Standing Inquiry Committee for Protection of Civil Freedoms and Rights. Additionally,
all four should receive separate budgets. Committees tasked to follow the Intelligence
Agency, the Directorate for Security and Counter Intelligence and the
Army Intelligence and Counterintelligence Unit in coordination with the relevant
ministries and agencies (MoI, MoD and Intelligence Agency) should develop an annual
training plan to fill gaps in the competences of parliamentarians. The Committee
for Defence and Security and other relevant committees should insist on public
debates and hearings on draft laws.
• A parliamentary workgroup should be formed to examine final reports by the State
Audit Office.
7.2. Parliament / Government
• A special law on Peace support operations should be adopted.
• Competences of the Constitutional Court regarding citizens’ rights and freedoms