18. 3. 2022 | PR, Strengthening Societal Resilience and Countering Foreign Perpetrated Disinformation in 6 Western Balkans Countries
The Centre for European Perspective held the third capacity-building training/conference on countering disinformation in Ljubljana (SI) from 15 to 17 March 2022, bringing together representatives of government, civil society and media from all 6 countries of the Western Balkans.
The conference offered new insights into how humans store and process information, and also presented case studies on disinformation regarding Ukraine and the pandemic in Canada. The participants were acquainted with a best practices approach in treating and countering disinformation (cases of Taiwan and Sweden) and had a training on tools for investigating online misinformation and disinformation. An interactive session was devoted to putting acquired knowledge to practice and came up with a set of concrete solutions/proposals going forward – most importantly for participants’ respective countries, but for the project and future conferences as well.
Project “Strengthening societal resilience and countering foreign perpetrated disinformation in the Western Balkans” is financed by the National Endowment for Democracy and Slovenian Development Aid fund (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia).
9. 3. 2022 | PR, Strengthening Societal Resilience and Countering Foreign Perpetrated Disinformation in 6 Western Balkans Countries
The Centre for European Perspective is holding the third capacity-building training/conference on countering disinformation in Ljubljana (SI) from 15 to 17 March 2022, bringing together representatives of government, civil society and media from all 6 countries of the Western Balkans.
The conference will build upon the experiences and knowledge from previous conferences, enhance inter- and intra-country networking and regional cooperation while at the same time offer the participants insights into newest developments and good practices on countering mis- and disinformation, offer new tools to investigate them and propose concrete results/steps going forward on countering disinformation.
Project “Strengthening societal resilience and countering foreign perpetrated disinformation in the Western Balkans” is financed by the National Endowment for Democracy and Slovenian Development Aid fund (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia).
10. 12. 2021 | Macedonia - Finance, PR
Klikni tukaj za več o projektu v slovenščini 
In pursuit of the interest to conduct financial investigations effectively, after the adoption of the National Strategy for Financial Investigations in July 2021, the competent Macedonian authorities are in the process of developing and interdepartmental coordination of standard operating procedures. Harmonized standard operating procedures will more specifically define the course, characteristics and cooperation in financial investigations of the authorities, which in North Macedonia carry out financial investigations (Ministry of the Interior, Financial Police Directorate, Customs Administration and the State Prosecutor’s Office). In doing so, Macedonian institutions rely largely on Slovenian experience and advice.
In the period between 30.11. and 3 December 2021, in the framework of the project of international development cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia, Assistance in Chapter 24 – financial investigations, consultations were held in Skopje in the field of standard financial investigation procedures. On 30 November 2021, Slovenian advice was first provided interdepartmentally, at a meeting convened on the initiative of the Ministry of the Interior. Subsequent consultations were conducted tête-à-têtes, with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Financial Police, the Customs Administration and the Ministry of the Interior / Police. Consultations are to be continued.
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
24. 11. 2021 | Macedonia - Finance, PR
Klikni tukaj za branje pripsevka v slovenskem jeziku.
While negotiations on EU membership are awaiting opening in North Macedonia, the competent Macedonian authorities are actively working on strengthening the system of financial investigations and the system of confiscation of proceeds of crime and property, which could be of illegal origin.
In pursuit of interest to conduct effective financial investigations, after the adoption of the National Strategy for Financial Investigations in July 2021, the competent Macedonian authorities are in the process of development and interdepartmental coordination of standard operating procedures. Harmonized standard operating procedures will more specifically define the course, characteristics and cooperation in financial investigations of the authorities, which in North Macedonia carry out financial investigations (Ministry of the Interior, Financial Police Directorate, Customs Administration and the State Prosecutor’s Office). Slovenia, which supports North Macedonia in bringing it closer to EU standards in the field of financial investigations, will between 30 November and 2 December 2021 provide advice in interdepartmental coordination and standardization of financial investigation procedures in North Macedonia.
Strengthening the system of financial investigations is an important condition for North Macedonia’s membership in the EU, and above all, it is a key tool for crime prevention. Effective financial investigation and confiscation of assets where it cannot be proved to be obtained legally, carries the message that crime does not pay. With the planned measures, authorities in Macedonia reiterate the interest of North Macedonia that the more property is confiscated from criminals, the more the state can use it to improve the quality of public services for the people of North Macedonia, including health, education, social welfare and for the fight against crime itself.
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. 10. 2021 | North Macedonia - Communication, PR
Klikni tukaj za več o projektnih aktivnostih v slovenskem jeziku
In North Macedonia, despite less optimistic forecasts about the start of negotiations with the European Union, they are preparing for negotiations. Particularly engaged in preparations is the future Working Group on Chapter 24. This chapter covers issues of justice, freedom and security. Due to the changed methodology of the EU and the importance, scope and complexity of the content, Chapter 24 is the first to open, the future working group for Chapter 24 is particularly keen to prepare for the negotiations.
The Macedonian initiative to strengthen the capacity of the working group for Chapter 24 speaks of the interest in increasing the skills of the members of the working group. It also speaks of Macedonian comprehension of the impact of strengthen capacities on both the effectiveness of the negotiation process with the EU and the promotion of rule of law reforms, which benefit the country, regardless of negotiation process with the EU.
At the initiative of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia, the first in a series of practical, interactive workshops was held in North Macedonia from 28-30 September 2021, to be organized for a future Chapter 24 working group. The working group for Chapter 24, which participated in the workshop, is composed inter-departmentally. It includes representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecution, the Customs Administration, the Financial Police, the National Security Agency and the Secretariat for European Affairs.
This workshop was aimed at raising the awareness of the future working group for Chapter 24 on the importance of internal and external communication for the negotiation process. The exercises consisted of the contents of Chapter 24 and communication techniques, as well as feedback and experiences of the participants, including experiences from the EU negotiation process of Slovenia and Montenegro.
At the end of the workshop, it was agreed that the workshop activities contributed to the progress in communications within the Chapter 24 Negotiating Working Group and increased awareness of the importance of communication. At the same time, working group expressed the need to continue with practical exercises and to increase the frequency of Chapter 24 working group regular meetings. With the conclusion of the first workshop, preparations for follow-up workshops tailored-made to the participants and consisted of interactive exercises began aimed at raising the communication capacity of the Chapter 24 working group. The next workshop in North Macedonia is expected to take place in February 2022.
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
