Back 1st Working group meeting on drafting the National Strategy for the Development

1st Working group meeting on drafting the National Strategy for the Development

A working group (WG) meeting on drafting the new National Strategy for the Development of the Penitentiary System in North Macedonia took place on 12-13 September 2019 in Skopje. The WG members shared their experience on the implementation of the current National Strategy (2015-2019), developed under a previous EU/CoE Joint Programme, and identified the shortcomings and areas for further improvement. Furthermore, the vision, mission and the layout of the National Strategy have been discussed and agreed upon, together with the specific objectives and the methodology.

The WG gathered representatives from the Directorate for Execution of Sanctions within the Ministry of Justice, prison staff from different penitentiary institutions nation-wide, as well as officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Ministry of Health. The meeting was facilitated by Council of Europe consultants.

This meeting is the first of a series of working sessions that was organised within the scope of 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 second phase of the “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey” and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Skopje 12 - 13 September 2019
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Action summary

The Action against Economic Crime in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” (AEC-FYROM) will aim to improve implementation of key and recent recommendations of the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL), and to further strengthen institutional capacities to counter and prevent corruption; money laundering; and the financing of terrorism in accordance with European standards. The action will focus on supporting the authorities in several directions including: support for the strengthening of legislation and regulatory frameworks; institutional capacity building; support enhanced inter-agency and international co-operation.

This Action is part of the Council of Europe/European Union Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey.

Overall objective

The overall aim of this programme is to contribute to democracy and the rule of law through prevention and control of economic crimes in accordance with European and other international standards.

The Action specific objectives are:

  • The regulatory framework and guidance for whistle-blower protection and reporting is reviewed and implemented
  • Improved legislation and adoption of anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing (AML/CFT) national strategy
  • Capacity building for the Financial Intelligence Office (FIO)
  • Strengthen the capacities of the judiciary, prosecution and law enforcement agencies to fight ML and TF
  • Improved AML/CFT preventive system
  • Enhanced international cooperation capacities for law enforcement, FIO and supervisors

 Expected results:

  • The regulatory framework and guidance for whistleblower protection and reporting is reviewed and implemented, and capacities of authorities and NGOs to monitor its implementation are enhanced
  • The AML/CFT system is reinforced through improved legal and regulatory framework
  • The AML/CFT Strategy observing the new international standard is adopted
  • Legal powers, analytical and technical capacities of the Financial Intelligence Office (FIO) are improved
  • Capacity of the judiciary, prosecution and law enforcement agencies to fight money laundering and terrorism financing are strengthened
  • The AML/CFT supervisory and regulatory framework (preventative measures) is reinforced
  • The AML/CFT supervisory skills of the designated supervisors are increased
  • Beneficial ownership related preventive measures and transparency of legal persons are enhanced
  • International cooperation capacities of law enforcement, FIO and supervisors are enhanced

This webpage has been produced using funds of a joint project between the European Union and the Council of Europe.  The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.

Project at a glance
  • Duration: 24 May 2016 – 23 May 2019
  • Beneficiaries/Partners: The Financial Investigation Unit, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, State Audit Office
  • Funding: The European Union and the Council of Europe
  • Budget: 1,350,000 EUR
PROJECT contacts

 Ilina GAREVSKA, Senior Project Officer

 Mustafa FERATI, Head of Unit, Action against Crime Department