The Council of Europe and the European Union continue to support the institutions in North Macedonia involved in the preparation for release and post-penal assistance to radicalised inmates and violent extremist prisoners (VEPs). Following the preparation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), finalized in April, the members of the cross-section working group and other relevant stakeholders attended a training organized on 29-30 June 2021 in Skopje, focusing on the implementation of the SOP.

This session was attended by 20 participants coming from the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions, prison and probation officers, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the National Security Agency, as well as the National Coordinator for Prevention of Violent Extremism and Fight against Terrorism.

Multi-agency cooperation, sharing information and VEPs’ case management were in the focus of the discussion, all of which are covered by the approved SOP. As a result, there is increased understanding among all stakeholders on the need to strengthen coordination in preparation for release and enhance inter-institutional cooperation with aim to better support these persons’ reintegration back into their communities.



This hybrid activity was organised under the Action “Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the external oversight mechanism in North Macedonia”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe within the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022” and implemented by the Council of Europe.