EU and Council of Europe Launch €9 Million Anti-Corruption and Crime-Fighting Initiative in North Macedonia
The European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoE) announced the launch of the Western Balkans and Turkey Horizontal Facility on May 23, 2016. This new initiative aims to strengthen cooperation with the CoE in implementing its priorities, particularly in areas like fighting corruption, economic crime, and organized crime.
Country-specific actions
Three country-specific actions were designed under this facility to support tailored reform processes in Albania, Montenegro, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM, now North Macedonia). In each country, the actions aim to advance the implementation of critical recommendations from the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and Moneyval Committee.
North Macedonia: €3 Million Anti-Corruption Program
In North Macedonia, a €3 million program will be in place for the next 36 months. The following areas will be the main focuses of this endeavor:
- Code of conduct for public officials
- Whistleblower protection
- Financing of political parties
- Election campaigns
The EU and CoE standards for countering and preventing corruption, money laundering, and financing terrorism will be the primary reference points for this program.
Key contacts
Strasbourg
- Mustafa Ferati, Head of Unit I (Phone: +33 03 90 21 45 50 / Email: Mustafa.FERATI@coe.int)
- Jelena Jolic, Programme Manager (Phone: +33 03 90 21 48 52 / Email: Jelena.JOLIC@coe.int)
Skopje (Council of Europe Programme Office)
- Ilina Garevska, Senior Project Officer (Phone: +389 2 3100 328 / Email: Ilina.GAREVSKA@coe.int)
- Maja Kostova, Project Assistant (Phone: +389 2 3100 324 / Email: Maja.KOSTOVA@coe.int)
Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje
The Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje is located at Soravia Business Centre, Filip Vtori Makedonski, no. 3, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia.