13. 6. 2022 | Macedonia - Finance, PR
Klikni tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku. 
In line with the recommendations of the European Commission, North Macedonia is stepping up its efforts to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement in fighting certain forms of crime, such as money laundering and financial crimes.
Financial investigations leading to the confiscation of proceeds of crime derived from offenses and illicit assets are weapons, which the Macedonian investigative and law enforcement authorities are using with increasing frequency and success in the fight against organized crime and corruption.
On this path, Slovenia offers support and assistance to North Macedonia through international development cooperation. In the framework of this program, 17 representatives from the units of key institutions dealing with financial investigations in North Macedonia: the Ministry of the Interior, the Customs Administration, the Financial Police Office, and the State Prosecutor’s Office, were hosted for a working visit from 6 to 9 June 2022.
During the first part of the working visit, the Macedonian participants met with some senior officials and other representatives of institutions dealing with financial investigations in Slovenia: the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office, the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office, the Financial Administration, and the Ministry of the interior, where they had the opportunity to exchange experiences and learn about the work of their Slovenian colleagues.
The second part of the visit was followed by practical workshops in the field, where simulated financial investigations were carried out. The extremely intensive agenda demonstrated the good preparedness of the Macedonian investigative authorities, who had the opportunity to test their operational performance in practice as well as the implementation of the Common Guidelines adopted by the Macedonian institutions in 2019 in Ljubljana.
The working visit showed that Macedonian institutions and investigative authorities have made remarkable progress in making financial investigations more effective, which was confirmed not only by their Slovenian mentor and colleagues but also by the participants themselves.
The working visit participants expressed their gratitude to Slovenia for its friendly assistance and continued support for North Macedonia’s reform efforts on the path to the EU, and were assured by their Slovenian colleagues and interlocutors that they can count on Slovenia’s support in the future.
The project is part of the program activities of international development cooperation, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and implemented in cooperation with the State Prosecution, Financial Administration, Ministry of the Interior and the Police of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
27. 5. 2022 | Macedonia - Finance, PR
Klikni tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku.
Representatives of the Macedonian competent authorities responsible for financial investigations and confiscations of property of Illicit Origin will strengthen their capacities, within Slovenian international development assistance, on a study visit, which will be held from 6 to 9 June 2022 in Slovenia. They will meet with some leading representatives of institutions responsible for financial investigations in Slovenia and receive practical training with the help of Slovenian mentors.
The study visit will be attended by representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the Customs Administration, the Financial Police Office, and the State Prosecutor’s Office.
The project is part of the program activities of international development cooperation, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and implemented in cooperation with the State Prosecution, Financial Administration, Ministry of the Interior and the Police of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
7. 4. 2022 | Macedonia - Finance, PR
Klikni tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku.
Strengthening the field of financial investigations is one of the goals, but also one of the latest recommendations of the European Commission, which North Macedonia has recently been successfully pursuing with Slovenia’s international development assistance.
Following the adoption of the National Strategy for Financial Investigations in July 2021, the competent authorities involved in financial investigations are now paying intensive attention to the procedurals for the implementation of the Common Guidelines for Financial Investigations. In doing so they rely primarily on the Slovenian experience.
As part of such cooperation, consultations for the competent Macedonian authorities and exchange of experience on the implementation of financial investigation procedures took place on 28 and 29 March 2022 in North Macedonia. The consultation was attended by representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, Customs Administration, Financial Police Office and the State Prosecutor’s Office who are directly involved in standard procedures for financial investigation.
The results of the consultation contribute to the capacity of North Macedonia for financial investigations and confiscation of proceeds of crime, in particular the property of the perpetrators, for which they cannot prove that it originates from legal sources. The proceeds of crime will be frozen and confiscated in North Macedonia in the next period in the investigating and prosecuting authorities proceedings to an even greater extent and dedicated to the rule of law and to improve the quality of public services in North Macedonia.
Some photos of activities:
The project is part of the program activities of international development cooperation, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and implemented in cooperation with the State Prosecution, Financial Administration, Ministry of the Interior and the Police of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
5. 4. 2022 | North Macedonia - Communication, PR
Klikni tukaj za več o projektnih aktivnostih v slovenskem jeziku
Pending the date for the start of EU accession negotiations, North Macedonia is intensively preparing in accordance with the recommendations of the European Commission’s 2021 Progress Report. The Working Group set up for this purpose will be responsible for reporting on achievements in the field of reforms and progress under Chapter 24. The members of the group are experts from various Macedonian institutions dealing with the contents of Chapter 24. In preparing for effective and comprehensive communication with domestic and foreign stakeholders, as well as interinstitutional substantive cooperation, they also rely on the assistance of Slovenian experts.
Within the framework of the project of international development cooperation, the 2nd workshop was conducted for the members of the Working Group. This time the workshop took place from 28 to 31 March 2022 in North Macedonia. The aim of the workshop was to strengthen the presentation skills for communicating the content from Chapter 24.
The workshop was attended by representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the Agency for National Security Agency, the Customs Administration, the Financial Police office, the Ministry of Justice and the Secretariat for European Affairs. Through practical interactive exercises, they developed and deepened skills, methods and techniques for more effective oral and written communication of the contents of Chapter 24. In addition, they got acquainted with the method and practice of reporting on the achievements of the European Commission and exchanged experience in communicating with the domestic professional and general public.
A constructive discussion successfully presented the current practices of presentation skills, pointed out the shortcomings and drew attention to the room and the need for improvements, which will be taken into account in the continuation of the project, in future workshops. According to the participants’ evaluation at the end of the workshop, the way of working was carefully thought out and the goal – strengthening presentation skills – was achieved.
The project is part of the programme activities of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
18. 3. 2022 | Macedonia - Finance, PR
Klikni tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku.
In accordance with its strategic goal and the desire to achieve the criteria for EU membership, North Macedonia is seriously committed to making progress and increasing efficiency in the fight against organized crime and corruption. Slovenia has been helping North Macedonia on this path in the field of financial investigations through international development assistance since 2017.
Within the framework of this support, Slovenian experts will this time pass on their knowledge to their Macedonian colleagues by advising them on the development of procedures for the implementation of the Common Guidelines for Financial Investigations, which were adopted in 2019 by the Macedonian institutions responsible for financial investigations, based on Slovenian experience.
The consultation will take place on 28-29 March 2022 in North Macedonia, and will be attended by representatives of the authorities, which in North Macedonia carry out financial investigations: Ministry of the Interior, Customs Administration, Financial Police Office and the State Prosecutor’s Office.
The project is part of the program activities of international development cooperation, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and implemented in cooperation with the State Prosecution, Financial Administration, Ministry of the Interior and the Police of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
