On 25 October in Belgrade, Serbia, a conference on "Improving Access to Justice through Mediation" was organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the South East Europe Associations of Mediators Network (SEE AM) to promote mediation.

At the conference, Dr. Jelisaveta Georgieva Jovevska, President of the Mediation Support Association (APM) at the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia and a licensed mediator, shared her experiences and the activities that APM has conducted since 2016 to further promote mediation. Over this period, APM has organized more than 50 events, conferences, trainings, and similar activities, engaging over 2,500 stakeholders. APM was the first in Macedonia to hold a Regional Conference in 2017, attended by representatives from regional countries plus Moldova, Türkiye, Cyprus, Germany, and the Netherlands. In 2023, APM organized the Second Regional Conference in cooperation with IFC, attracting over 100 participants, with speakers from the EU Office in the RNM, the German Embassy, IFC, UNDP, the RNM Government, and mediation support associations from the region. Owing to APM’s efforts, supported by both domestic and international institutions and the media, there has been progress in the use of mediation in the country. However, there is still a need for greater engagement and promotion to fully leverage its benefits.

Participants at the Belgrade conference included representatives from mediation associations, mediators, and attorneys from North Macedonia, Albania, Türkiye, Greece, Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro.

From Macedonia, participants included Milazim Mustafa, a member of the Judicial Council and licensed mediator, and Prof. Dr. Ljupcho Sotiroski from the South East Europe Associations of Mediators Network and a licensed mediator.

The conference concluded that future efforts should focus on:

• Joint participation in regional initiatives and projects to promote mediation.
• Organizing support activities for mediation through synergy with all relevant stakeholders, institutions, courts, media, and others, to raise awareness and change the mindset toward greater utilization of mediation. This tool allows for resolving disputes with lower financial costs, less time, maintaining good relations with the other party, and achieving an agreement with the enforceability of an official document if notarized.

All participants agreed that mediation is a dispute resolution tool that benefits everyone: it relieves the courts by reducing caseloads, supports the state in implementing EU recommendations, helps companies reduce costs, and resolves disputes where all parties come out as winners. In summary, everyone gains from mediation.

Organizers and participants concurred that another event promoting mediation will be held soon.