Q & A with Elvedin Ferati
Your current occupation and country of work?
I work as a judge at the Basic Court in Tetovo, North Macedonia.
How you use European law in your work?
The judiciary in the country has been undergoing reforms to enhance its efficiency and independence, aligning it more closely with European standards and principles. As a participant, I sought to enhance my knowledge, foster a deeper understanding of European law, and hope to contribute to the ongoing reforms within our national family law system as a candidate country to join the European Union, ensuring it aligns more closely with European standards.
How you benefitted from the scholarship and the gained knowledge?
Recognizing the growing importance of European law and its impact on our domestic law, I aspired to enrich my expertise and discover new perspectives that European family law could offer. Throughout the course, I gained valuable knowledge regarding the fundamental principles of European family law, such as parental rights, child custody, divorce proceedings, and property division and also a deeper understanding and a more comprehensive perspective on the respective legal matters. I also developed a deeper understanding of the mechanisms employed by European institutions to harmonize family law across different jurisdictions. The comparative analysis of legal systems across Europe enabled me to appreciate the diversity of family law practices and identify potential areas for improvement in North Macedonia.
21/07/2023
The knowledge gained from this scholarship will undoubtedly enhance my performance as a judge in North Macedonia. The correct application and implementation of EU law in cross-border family cases before the court is crucial, as it is the implementation of recent jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the EU and the European Court of Human Rights. By adopting certain best practices and principles learned during the course, I will explore ways to integrate this knowledge into my judicial responsibilities back home. I express my heartfelt gratitude to ERA for providing this invaluable opportunity for my professional growth and development.