Following the signature of the Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey on 23 May 2016, the Economic Crime and Cooperation Unit (ECCU) has initiated the inception phase activities in all beneficiary areas. 

On 2-3 June 2016, three members of the Secretariat undertook an inception phase mission to Skopje. In a series of meetings with representatives of beneficiary institutions and other stakeholders the team discussed the Tri-Annual Plan of Action (TAPA) and the modalities for the implementation of the Action against Economic Crime in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, and agreed on a draft workplan for implementation of activities. 

The inception phase of the action will conclude on 23 September 2016, after which follows the implementation of specific activities as foreseen in the workplan.