NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR INFORMATION SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT AND ACTION PLAN 55 2.7 LEGISLATION . . . It is pointless to tell the river to stop running, it would be better if you learn how to swim . . . 2.7.1 Current Situation Following the long tradition of the former Yugoslav law, the positive legislation of the Republic of Macedonia is under strong influence of the continental European law. Nonetheless, the Anglo-Saxon law and the legal doctrine are more and more strongly influencing it, and, thus, certain institutes are incorporated into our legal system. It can be concluded that a portion of the Macedonian legislation still contains specific solutions which were characteristic of the old system of the socio-political order. Although the new legal solutions in essence are in the spirit of the new social relations (market economy, competition, plural political party system, and alike), still it could be noted that the legislation takes a slow course in changing and it looks as if it looses pace with the new social and economic relations. Also, some lack of harmonisation between the laws can be noted. The Macedonian judiciary system cannot fully respond to the challenges of today. For that reason, it is necessary to introduce an urgent reform of all segments and institutions of the court system (courts, public prosecutor's offices, public attorney, lawyers, notaries, etc.). From the moment of the making the decisions for accession to the World Trade Organisation and to the European Union, and especially after the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and entering the World Trade organisation, it is notable that the responsible authorities show a higher level of accountability in the preparation and passing of the laws, and their harmonisation with the international conventions and agreements ratified by our country. This is especially valid for the harmonisation of our legislation with the legislation of the European Union. Although the Republic of Macedonian had decided to follow the directives of the European Union, meaning that it will strive towards a knowledge based information society and economy, still the creation of adequate and complete legal frameworks is falling behind. Namely, in the Republic of Macedonia there is neither Law on Information Society, nor a Law on Electronic Trading. In the course of 2001 and especially in 2002, the initial steps were made towards regulation of the usage of new technologies (Law on Electronic data and Electronic Signature, Law on Obligations, Criminal Code, Customs Law, Law on Electronic Communications, Law on Protection of Personal Data, Consumer Protection Law, Law on Notaries). However, some of the acts were not sufficiently developed with the passing of the secondary legislation, and in the majority of the cases the introduced changes were insufficient, inadequate and did not yield positive results. This is characteristic for all areas, the infrastructure, the business sector, the state administration (the Government, the stated administrative bodies and the local self-Government bodies), education, health protection, as well as for the services that address the everyday life and the work of the citizens. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR INFORMATION SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT AND ACTION PLAN