Successful exchange of experiences of Macedonia and Slovenia in financial investigations

Successful exchange of experiences of Macedonia and Slovenia in financial investigations

In the period from 26 to 29 June 2017, the first phase of the capacity building process in the field of financial investigations and confiscation of unlawful proceeds and property of unlawful origin took place in Macedonia.

The two-day workshop was attended by 15 representatives of the Ministry of the Interior / Police (who are in charge of the project on Macedonian side), Customs Administration, Financial Police, the Directorate for Money Laundering Prevention and the Public Revenue Administration, while five representatives of the Ministry of the Interior Interior / Police participated in the individual councelling/coaching. In the exchange of experiences, the representatives of Macedonia and Slovenia have identified differences and related advantages and disadvantages that occur in the conduct of financial investigations. As one of the possible tools for more effective prevention of organised crime and corruption and upgrading of the system for confiscation of unlawfull proceeds under criminal law, participants also studied experiences in confiscation of property of illegal origin in civil justice procedure. In the discussions the participants agreed that only the measure which can be effectively implemented can lead criminals to the conclusion that crime does not pay.

This is a two-year project (2017-2018) funded from the Program of International Development Cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia and implemented by the Ministry of the Interior/ Police, State Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime and Corruption and Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, led by the Center for European Perspective.


Uspešna izmenjava izkušenj Makedonije in Slovenije o finančnih preiskavah

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V Makedoniji je v času od 26. do 29. junija 2017 potekala prva faza procesa krepitve zmogljivosti na področju finančnih preiskav in odvzemov protipravne premoženjske koristi in premoženja nezakonitega izvora.

V dvodnevni delavnici je sodelovalo 15 predstavnikov Ministrstva za notranje zadeve/Policije (ki so tudi nosilci projekta na makedonski strani), Carinske uprave, Finančne policije, Uprave za preprečevanja pranja denarja in Uprave za javne prihodke, v enodnevnem individualnem svetovanju pa 5 predstavnikov Ministrstva za notranje zadeve/Policije. V izmenjavi izkušenj so predstavniki Makedonije in Slovenije ugotavljali razlike in z razlikami povezane prednosti in slabosti, ki se pojavljajo v izvajanju finančnih preiskav. Kot enega izmed možnih orodij za učinkovitejše preprečevanje organiziranega kriminala in korupcije in nadgradnjo sistema odvzema nezakonito pridobljene premoženjske koristi v okviru kazenskopravne zakonodaje, so udeleženci preučevali tudi odvzem premoženja nezakonitega izvora v civilni pravdi. V diskusiji so se udeleženci strinjali, da le ukrep, ki ga je možno učinkovito izvesti, lahko storilce kaznivih dejanj in kriminalne združbe privede so sklepa, da se kriminal ne izplača.

Gre za dvoletni projekt (2017-2018), ki je financiran iz sredstev Programa mednarodnega razvojnega sodelovanja Republike Slovenije in ga izvajajo Ministrstvo za notranje zadeve/ Policija, Specializirano državno tožilstvo in Finančna uprava Republike Slovenije pod vodstvom Centra za evropsko prihodnost.

Macedonia supported by Slovenia in financial investigations

Macedonia supported by Slovenia in financial investigations

Macedonia will receive support for the accession to the EU in the Chapter 24 in the framework of the programme of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation and the focus of this support will in next two years (2017-2018) be to build capacities in the area of financial investigations. From 26 to 29 June 2017 a workshop will take place in Macedonia involving those in Slovenian and Macedonia who direct the work of investigation and suppression of organised crime and corruption.

They will exchange experiences and recognise differences, which can significantly influence the success of identification and confiscation of proceeds of crime and property of unlawful origin. Since the main motive of perpetrators of organised crime as well as means for their functioning, is to gain proceeds, financial investigations and confiscation of proceeds of crime are important tool in fight against organised crime and corruption. The project, managed by the Centre for European Perspective, is conducted in the cooperation with the Ministry of Interior/Police, Ministry of Justice, Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime and Corruption and Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia.

The project is part of the programme activities funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia with funds for international development cooperation.


Makedoniji pomoč Slovenije na področju finančnih preiskav

Makedonija bo v okviru programa mednarodnega razvojnega sodelovanja Slovenije prejela pomoč pri približevanju EU v poglavju 24, pomoč pa se bo v naslednjih dveh letih (2017-2018) osredotočala na krepitev zmogljivosti na področju finančnih preiskav. Od 26.-29.6.2017 bo v Makedoniji potekala delavnica, na kateri bodo izmenjali izkušnje tisti, ki so v Sloveniji in Makedoniji vključeni v usmerjane dela pri preiskovanju in pregonu organiziranega kriminala in korupcije, in ugotavljali razlike, ki lahko pomembno vplivajo na uspešnost ugotavljanja in odvzema protipravno pridobljene premoženjske koristi in premoženja nezakonitega izvora. Ker je glavni motiv in hkrati sredstvo za delovanje storilcev organiziranega kriminala pridobitev premoženjske koristi, so finančne preiskave in odvzem premoženja nezakonitega izvora pomembno orodje v boju proti organiziranemu kriminalu in korupciji. Projekt, ki ga vodi Center za evropsko prihodnost, se izvaja v sodelovanju z Ministrstvom za notranje zadeve/Policijo, Ministrstvom za pravosodje, Specializiranim državnim tožilstvom in Finančno upravo Republike Slovenije.

Projekt je del programskih aktivnosti, ki jih financira Ministrstvo za zunanje zadeve iz sredstev za mednarodno razvojno sodelovanje.

Let’s prepare a Successful Project Proposal – 2nd CEP workshop in Tirana

Let’s prepare a Successful Project Proposal – 2nd CEP workshop in Tirana

In the framework of the project ‘Assistance to Albanian municipalities in the preparation of the EU and other international projects’ between 23 and 26 May 2017 Centre for European Perspective (CEP) is conducting this year’s second workshop in Tirana. The workshop is a continuation of the first workshop that was held in April in Albanian Vlora. Same participants continue with the preparation of their project proposals.

Participants are representatives of local government (different municipalities and regional development agencies), various ministries, university and Donor Coordination Office of the Prime Minister. The workshop started with the presentations of logical frameworks that were prepared by all participants’ groups. Preparation of the log frames took place during the last four weeks since the first workshop has finished. The second workshop addresses the familiarization with the standard grant application pack, budget planning, risk assessment, horizontal principles, project partner search and project implementation (including reporting, evaluation and dissemination). The main objective of the second workshop is that each group of participants prepare an outline of the project proposal that could successfully compete in a concrete call.

The very successful project initially started in 2012 with a focus on strengthening the capacities of the Albanian Institutions for disbursement of funds from Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). Since then, CEP conducted 8 workshops on project preparation for civil servants. Last year’s follow up on training shows that 71 project applications were submitted with 27 projects awarded (these figures are from December 2016).

CEP is preparing a training in cooperation with the Balkan Center for Cooperation and Development (BCCD), the American development agency USAID and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tirana.

The project is part of the CEP program activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the scope of international development cooperation.

Photos: BCCD


Pripravimo uspešen projektni predlog – druga delavnica CEP v Tirani

Center za evropsko prihodnost (CEP) v okviru projekta ‘Pomoč albanskim občinam na področju priprave EU in drugih mednarodnih projektov’ med 23. in 26. majem 2017 v Tirani izvaja letošnjo drugo delavnico. Delavnica je nadaljevanje prve delavnice, ki je bila izvedena aprila. Ista skupina udeležencev nadaljuje s pripravami projektnih predlogov.

Udeleženci so predvsem predstavniki lokalnih oblasti (različnih občin in razvojnih agencij), med njimi pa so tudi predstavniki nekaterih ministrstev, univerze in urada predsednika vlade za koordinacijo donatorjev. Delavnica se je začela s predstavitvijo in pregledom logičnih okvirjev projektnih idej, ki so jih udeleženci, razdeljeni v skupine, pripravili v štirih tednih, kolikor je minilo od prve delavnice. V okviru druge delavnice bodo udeleženci med drugim podrobno spoznali standardno obliko projektnih razpisov, pripravo finančnega načrta projekta, oceno tveganja, upoštevanje horizontalnih načel, iskanje projektnih partnerjev in samo izvajanje pridobljenih projektov (vključno s poročanjem, evalvacijo ter diseminacijo). Cilj druge delavnice je, da ima vsaka skupina udeležencev ob koncu zasnovan okvirni projektni predlog, ki bi lahko uspešno konkuriral na konkretnem razpisu.

CEP podobna usposabljanja za albanske javne uslužbence uspešno izvaja že od leta 2012. Podatki iz decembra 2016 so zelo spodbudni in kažejo, da so občine in razvojne agencije, ki so sodelovale na usposabljanju minulo leto, prijavile 71 projektov, pri čemer so bila sredstva dodeljena 27 projektom v skupni vrednosti dobrih 3,7 milijona evrov.

CEP pripravlja usposabljanje v sodelovanju z Balkanskim centrom za sodelovanje in razvoj (BCCD), ameriško razvojno agencijo USAID in Veleposlaništvom RS v Tirani.

Projekt je del programskih aktivnosti CEP, ki jih financira Ministrstvo za zunanje zadeve iz sredstev za mednarodno razvojno sodelovanje.

Fotografije: BCCD

Video: Empowering BiH’s and Kosovo’s Young Entrepreneurs

Video: Empowering BiH’s and Kosovo’s Young Entrepreneurs

Empowering BiH’s and Kosovo’s Young Entrepreneurs is a region-wide project that supports the young entrepreneurs and youngsters with a promising start-up idea on their way to the development of the idea and launch of their own start-up company. Watch the video about the project!

Centre for European Perspective hosted a group of young entrepreneurs for a three-day training in the field of entrepreneurship and transfer of good practices from Slovenia. The participants visited Maribor, Jable Castle and Ljubljana and had a chance to get to know Slovenian entrepreneurial ecosystem and existing start-up initiatives.

The project is part of the CEP program activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the scope of international development cooperation.

Announcement: Let’s prepare a Successful Project Proposal

Announcement: Let’s prepare a Successful Project Proposal

In the framework of the project ‘Assistance to Albanian municipalities in the preparation of the EU and other international projects’ between 23 and 26 May 2017 Centre for European Perspective (CEP) will conduct the second workshop in Tirana. The workshop is continuation of the first workshop that was held in April in Albanian Vlora. Same participants will continue with the preparation of their project ideas.

In the four weeks that have passed since the first workshop the participants prepared a logical frameworks for their project ideas. The logical frameworks were submitted to the trainers who have checked them and will continue to work on them with the participants next week. The main objective of the second workshop is that each group of participants prepare an outline of the project proposal that could successfully compete on a concrete call.

CEP is preparinga training in cooperation with the Balkan Center for Cooperation and Development (BCCD), the American development agency USAID and the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tirana.

The project is part of the CEP program activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the scope of international development cooperation.

From VR technologies and mobile apps to hacking and travelling platforms – training for young entrepreneurs from BiH and Kosovo

From VR technologies and mobile apps to hacking and travelling platforms – training for young entrepreneurs from BiH and Kosovo

Centre for European Perspective hosted a group of young entrepreneurs for a three-day training in the field of entrepreneurship and transfer of good practices from Slovenia. The participants visited Maribor, Jable Castle and Ljubljana and had a chance to get to know Slovenian entrepreneurial ecosystem and existing start-up initiatives.

We hosted 40 young entrepreneurs from the Western Balkans, 10 start-up teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and 10 from Kosovo at the PODIM Conference, one of the leading start-up meetings in the region. They were selected on the basis of the PODIM Challenge call that initially received more than 70 entrepreneurial ideas, 48 from Kosovo and 27 from BiH. Young entrepreneurs had to present their idea, team and business plan. Among over 200 start-ups from Slovenia and the region, two teams from BiH, AOX Earth and Koola, got into the semi-finals where 20 best start-up ideas pitched in front of the experts and investors.

Participants had a chance to listen to the inspiring and content-rich speeches and workshops, delivered by serial start-upers, investors, initiators from all four corners of the world. They met with the investors through one-on-one meetings, they widened their horizons at the consulting and coaching sessions and discussed their ideas with the young people with a similar entrepreneurial mindset.

The last day of the training was devoted to the wrap-up session at Jable castle. Participants discussed their experience at the conference and addressed the potentials of cooperation inside their home countries and among the countries of the Western Balkans. Urban Lapajne from Start:up Slovenija initiative talked about the Slovenian experience of the country-wide cooperation and coordination between the incubators, universities, technological parks. In BiH and Kosovo, there is no such coordination platform, which is why the idea was discussed with our young participants. The need for such cooperation was supported also by Ana Anžej from SAŠA Inkubator and Start:up Slovenia. The representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peter Grk and Alenka Košir discussed Slovenian and EU efforts in the Balkans and the Positive Agenda for Youth in the Western Balkans. In conclusion, the participants visited the ABC Accelerator where they got a chance to present their idea in 1 minute and got a professional pitching feedback from the experienced ABC Team.

The project is part of our program activities, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Slovenia in the framework of Slovenia’s development cooperation.