On 20th of December 2021, the Action against Economic Crime supported beneficiary institutions, the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption and the Ministry of Justice, in organising a roundtable on the topic “Standards for preventive anti-corruption bodies, policies and practices, pursuant to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (Article 5 and 6)”, as part of the anti-corruption month.

The event was opened by the President of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, Ms Biljana Ivanovska and H.E. David Geer, EU Ambassador to North Macedonia. In her opening remarks Ms Lejla Dervisagic, Head of Operations of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje, underlined the Council of Europe contribution in the anti-corruption through its standard-setting, monitoring and technical assistance activities. The implementation of Articles 5 and 6 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption as well as the importance of the Council of Europe instruments for fighting corruption, were discussed, taking into account the plan prepared by the Ministry of Justice following the second review of the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Representatives of donor organisations, national authorities involved in the process of fighting corruption, as well as representatives of the CSO participated in the discussions of the roundtable. The anti-corruption standards and the approach of the Council of Europe in the area of fighting corruption were emphasized, as well as the impact of the Action against Economic Crime in the process of implementation of Article 5 and 6 from UNCAC.

This activity is organised and funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey” phase II.