First registered lobby employers’ organization in the Republic of North Macedonia

What is transparent presentation of interests – lobbying

Lobbying is a transparent presentation of interests that is carried out to present and advocate the interests of members, interest groups or citizens in relation to the policies and decisions of the government, local government or institution in favor of a specific goal or outcome.

Initiatives for presenting interests – Lobbying, originate from efforts to explain the interests of businesses and stakeholders to appointed officials, generally in government, local or other institutions.

Lobbying involves contact with a person who is being lobbied for the purpose of specifically directed explanation or influence on a certain process, i.e. on the content of public policies, i.e. programs, regulations and other general acts, which are carried out outside of an established and initiated procedure, i.e. procedure. Lobbying does not constitute a publicly communicated position, i.e. opinion, nor participation in a call, i.e. at the request of a body being lobbied, in the work of preparing, reviewing or requesting, i.e. providing factual information, i.e. data or expert opinions on initiatives and proposed solutions for public policies, programs, laws, other regulations and general acts.

Lobbying is a form in every democratic political system.

Why does the Business Confederation of North Macedonia insist on transparent and regulated lobbying?

When lobbying is regulated in a transparent manner, it is a legitimate opportunity for businesses, individuals or interest groups representing private interests to be involved in decision-making processes.

When lobbying is non-transparent and unregulated, it can lead, for example, to undue influence and unfair competition – active corruptive action.

The Business Confederation of North Macedonia as a registered lobby organization and lobbyists must report on their work

 Initiatives related to lobbying must be published in the register for transparent lobbying at the SCPC and submitted in writing or a written report on their activities.

The Business Confederation of North Macedonia and lobbyists must not give gifts.

Lobbyists and lobby organizations must not receive, give, promise donations, gifts, services, influence or other benefits or advantages.

Business Confederation of North Macedonia and lobbyists can be engaged to represent interests through official channels and procedures.

All interested businesses, clients and interested parties can contact the organization directly by phone or electronically using the email address

– 02/3224 762- Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 to 14:00

– contact@bcm.mk

Areas of directly regulated representation of the interests of businesses and interested parties – lobbying with the aim of exercising influence over the processes of preparation, adoption and amendment of:

 – laws, by-laws or other general acts;

– public policies or programs adopted by national and local authorities, especially when those policies or programs relate to spatial planning, development and the allocation or distribution of public funds.

Lobbying does not constitute or apply to:

 – Judicial or administrative proceedings, proceedings conducted in accordance with the regulations governing public procurement and proceedings in which decisions are made on the rights and obligations of individuals;

– Communication with a citizen in connection with the exercise of individual rights;

– Communication the disclosure of which may pose a threat to the security of any person or to the security of the state;

– A civil initiative initiated in accordance with the law;

– Communication with trade unions or representatives of trade unions when they represent the interests of their members in negotiations on employment and working conditions;

– Communication between officials in a legislative body, an executive body or a body of a local self-government unit that they carry out within the scope of their work tasks, i.e. functions;

– Communication between appointed, i.e. designated members in bodies formed by legislative bodies, executive bodies or bodies of local self-government units, for the purposes of considering, assessing and analyzing public policy issues, for the purpose of reporting to the bodies from which the bodies are formed;

– Communication with or on behalf of international organizations;

– Communication with or on behalf of a political party.

The lobbyist/lobby organization, or its representative, has a legal obligation to comply with the prohibitions on corruption.

 Putting the person being lobbied in a state of conflict of interest or causing a feeling of obligation towards the lobbyist/lobby organization, as well as the prohibitions on parallel lobbying, providing false or incomplete information regarding the status of the property being lobbied for or the client is prohibited, and is considered an act of corruption.