PREREQUISITES FOR RATIFICATION OF THE SECOND ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE BUDAPEST CYBERCRIME CONVENTION

Abstract

The Budapest Convention remains the most significant international treaty on cybercrime and 
electronic evidence. North Macedonia ratified the Convention in 2004 and the First Additional 
Protocol in 2005. The Second Additional Protocol introduces mechanisms for direct cooperation 
with service providers, expedited MLA, and JITs, focusing on subscriber data, domain name 
registration information and traffic data. Only Serbia, Hungary, and Costa Rica have ratified it so 
far. For North Macedonia, ratification requires legislative reforms (Criminal Procedure Code, Law 
on Electronic Communications, Law on International Cooperation in Criminal Matters), 
institutional reforms (specialized units, training, video conferencing), and policy alignment with 
GDPR-equivalent standards. Public awareness initiatives are also essential to build trust and 
legitimacy. Ratification is not just a formal act but a systemic transformation: it strengthens 
international cooperation, enhances protection of victims in cyberspace, and ensures justice in the 
digital age.