Title: EU and Council of Europe’s €3 Million Initiative to Combat Financial Crime in Macedonia
The European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoE) signed an agreement worth €3 million on May 23, 2016, to tackle financial crime, including money laundering and corruption, in Macedonia. This initiative, named the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey, will primarily focus on the implementation of key recommendations from the CoE’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL).
Beneficiary Countries and Objectives
Macedonia, Albania, and Montenegro are among the beneficiary countries of the Horizontal Facility in their fight against economic and organized crime. The 36-month action aims to:
- Improve the implementation of recommendations on the code of conduct for public officials
- Strengthen whistleblower protection
- Enhance financing of political parties and election campaigns
- Bolster institutional capacities to counter corruption, money laundering, and terrorism financing
Local Contact Information
To oversee the implementation of the project in Macedonia, Ms Ilina Garevska and Ms Maja Kostova have been appointed:
Ms Ilina GAREVSKA Senior Project Officer, Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje Phone: +389 2 3100 328 Email: Ilina.GAREVSKA [at] coe.int
Ms Maja KOSTOVA Project Assistant, Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje Phone: +389 2 3100 324 Email: Maja.KOSTOVA [at] coe.int
European Crusaders Against Financial Crime
Two dedicated individuals are leading the charge against financial crime based in Strasbourg, France:
Mr Mustafa FERATI Head of Unit I, CoE Phone: +33 (0)3 90 21 45 50 Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 39 55 Email: Mustafa.FERATI [at] coe.int
Ms Jelena JOLIC Programme Manager, CoE Phone: +33 (0)3 90 21 48 52 Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 39 55 Email: Jelena.JOLIC [at] coe.int
Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje
Contact information for the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje:
Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje Soravia Business Centre, Filip Vtori Makedonski, no. 3, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Together, these European crusaders work to strengthen Macedonia’s defenses against financial crimes and uphold European standards for a cleaner and more prosperous future.