Specialist on EU Law and Legislative Drafting (retainer position)

Nordic Support for Progress in Macedonia

The Government of Norway has decided to fund a sub-regional programme “Nordic Support for Progress’ in Macedonia” to be implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The project consists of a socio-economic development support to the more undeveloped parts of the country and also envisages support to the Macedonian authorities responsible for leading the renewed efforts on the EU accession process.

The Government of Norway has allocated funding for the implementation of the Project in Macedonia during 24 months.

The Overall Objective is to contribute to a more balanced socio-economic development and contribute to the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and EU accession negotiations priori-ties.

Specifically, the programme has objectives at the local and national levels i.e. locally, to increase employment opportunities, support social cohesion as well as to enhance local infrastructure in the less developed areas with a focus given to the inclusion of youth, women and vulnerable groups in the labour market. Nationally, the programme aims at supporting the government to improve its capacity for EU integration.

The project has three results:

Result 1: Improved Access to Employment of the Most Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups (in Particular Women and Youth)

Result 2: Enhanced Social Inclusion, Living Conditions and Local Infrastructure improved

Result 3: Support the government reform agenda in the accession process

All Project activities will be undertaken in partnership and cooperation with national and local institutions, with the aim of allowing them to adopt/adapt the legal requirements and, where relevant, EU accession criteria. This will ensure national ownership and support the development of national capacities.

Background Information - in relation to the assignment

Macedonian Government is in process of preparations for formal opening of accession negotiations with the EU and is accelerating government reforms, including implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) in two successive stages. At present, there is an on-going transition to the SAA second stage and of explanatory meetings of the European Commission on chapters of the acquis. The overall process is coordinated by the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA), as main coordination body in the accession negotiation process.

The National Programme for Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA), the key strategic and planning document in the accession negotiation process, encompasses the on-going process of gradual approximation of legislation with the acquis covering all areas already in the first stage of the SAA, including those foreseen for the second stage. The NPAA is planned, monitored and updated on a regular basis, by working groups for approximation to the acquis, following the structure of 33 chapters of the acquis.

The process of alignment of the national legislation with the acquis, presents one of the most important and challenging parts of the accession negotiation process. It is continuous and demanding task for the administration, taking into consideration the constant developments of the acquis and the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The massive and difficult exercise of law approximation involve legal and non-legal experts in all areas of the acquis, with limited knowledge of the EU law, national legislation, and skills for transposition, planning and drafting legislation. In general, there is need for setting-up consistent framework for systematic capacity building of civil servants involved in the harmonization process.

The country developed methodologies and guidelines for legal drafting and law harmonization with the acquis. With the advancement in the accession process, these guidelines need adjustments in order to meet additional requirements for full alignment with the acquis and implementation of the legislation, and at the same time, preserve coherence of the national legal system.

The Legislation Secretariat (LS) is responsible body for ensuring the legal consistency of the national legislation and verification of the level of compliance with the acquis, while the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA) is responsible for checking the compliance with the SAA obligations and monitoring the overall legislative process. Both institutions have the key role in the coordination, planning and monitoring of law harmonization with the acquis, within the framework of NPAA.

The project, under the Result 3: Support the Government Reform Agenda in the Accession Process, will assess priorities and provide support in the development of a consistent framework and tailor-made training programmes for systematic capacity building of civil servants.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Specialist on EU Law and Drafting Legislation will provide technical assistance to the Legislation Secretariat (LS) and the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA) with regards to legal drafting and law harmonization process.  

More specifically, the Specialist will undertake the following activities/responsibilities:

• Prepare tailor-made training package to include: an overview of EU law and policies, institutional framework and responsibilities, and the law making process in the EU; analysis of sources of EU law, types of legal acts and legislative procedure; analysis of the case-law and its application; the relations between EU and member-states’ legislation and the role of national courts;
• Assist LS in the review of current methodology of legal drafting, discuss the legal challenges to be addressed in the process of law approximation and provide recommendations on specific issues related to the constitutionality and coherence of the legal system, as well as suggest possible flexibility in this respect;
• Support LS in the review of principles and quality standards in legal drafting and legislative process in general, the explanatory memoranda of draft legislation (structure of the legal dossier), preparation of legal opinions, and provide recommendations for improvement;
• Provide on-the-job coaching and training of LS staff in terms of legal analysis and preparation of legal opinions, checking of the constitutionality and conformity with the legal rules and compatibility check with the acquis;
• Conduct at least 3 workshops on the EU law and law making process; challenges to the constitutionality and consistency of the national legal system and quality standards in legal drafting and legislative process in general;
• Identify issues and areas that may be subject to further project assistance or other donors’ assistance.

Education

• Advanced University Degree in Law, EU law, or similar relevant to the assignment, is required
• University Degree (Bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• Minimum five years of professional postgraduate experience in legal drafting related to the EU policies and/or EU integration, gained in an EU Member State, candidate or potential candidate country is required.
• Professional experience in the area of EU law and national legal systems and/or preparation of guidelines would be an asset.
• Proven experience in preparation and conducting training programme on EU law and/or legal drafting, will be an asset.
• Experience and/or knowledge of the Macedonian legislation will be an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in Macedonian and English (speaking, reading and writing) is required

• Excellent communication skills
• Confirmed analytical skills
• Confirmed reporting skills

This is a local position, it is therefore open to Nationals of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit.
Contract type: ICA
Contract level: Local ICA 10
Contract duration: Up to 50 working days in period of one year

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.