Financial Crime World

Title: European Union and Council of Europe Launch €9 Million Initiative to Combat Financial Crime

The European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoE) announced the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey on May 23, 2016. This €30 million agreement aims to enhance the CoE’s role in standard-setting, monitoring, and cooperation in the Western Balkans and Turkey, focusing on implementing key recommendations in the areas of anti-corruption, economic crime, and organized crime.

Country-specific actions in Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia

Three country-specific actions have been designed to support these efforts in Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia (formerly known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) with a budget of up to €3 million each:

  1. Albania

    • Improve the implementation of GRECO recommendations regarding the Code of Conduct for Public Officials and whistleblower protection.
    • Address issues related to financing of political parties and election campaigns.
    • Implement further measures to counter and prevent corruption, money laundering, and terrorism financing.

  2. Montenegro

    • Enhance the implementation of GRECO recommendations.
    • Strengthen the capacities of institutions in anti-corruption and economic crime areas.
    • Improve transparency and accountability in political party financing and election campaigns.

  3. North Macedonia

    • Improve the implementation of MONEYVAL recommendations.
    • Strengthen institutions’ capacities to counteract money laundering and terrorism financing.
    • Enhance cooperation between relevant entities in the justice, interior, and finance sectors.

Coordinators

Contact information for the Council of Europe:

  • Head of Unit I: Mr Mustafa Ferati

    • Phone: +33 (0)3 90 21 45 50
    • Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 39 55
    • Email: Mustafa.FERATI [at] coe.int

  • Programme Manager: Ms Jelena Jolic

    • Phone: +33 (0)3 90 21 48 52
    • Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 39 55
    • Email: Jelena.JOLIC [at] coe.int

Contact information for the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje:

  • Senior Project Officer: Ms Ilina Garevska

    • Phone: +389 2 3100 328
    • Email: Ilina.GAREVSKA [at] coe.int

  • Project Assistant: Ms Maja Kostova

    • Phone: +389 2 3100 324
    • Email: Maja.KOSTOVA [at] coe.int

  • Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje

    • Soravia Business Centre
    • Filip Vtori Makedonski, no. 3
    • 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia