On April 26, 2024, an important meeting was held in Skopje between Ljupco Kocevski, the newly appointed State Public Prosecutor of the Republic of North Macedonia, Gavril Bubevski, the head of Basic Public Prosecution Skopje, and Andreja Dolničar Jeraj, the Acting Director and Programme Director of the European Development Academy’s Office in Slovenia. The primary focus of their discussions was on strengthening North Macedonia’s capacities in the areas of the rule of law and the fight against crime, with a particular emphasis on financial investigations. These efforts aim to ensure that crime does not pay, by effectively tracing and confiscating the financial gains from criminal activities, a crucial step towards fulfilling the requirements for EU membership.
One of the main points on Kocevski’s proposed madate programme is enhancing the system’s ability to conduct thorough financial investigations. This meeting underscored commitment of North Macedonia’s authorities to this goal, with all parties agreeing on the necessity of robust measures to track and recover the financial benefits derived from criminal activities. By leveraging Slovenian expertise from the European Development Academy and fostering stronger cooperation, North Macedonia aims to improve its judicial processes and more effectively uphold the rule of law. This strategic approach promises to bolster public trust in the nation’s legal institutions and ensure that the prosecutorial system operates with greater efficiency and transparency, aligning with the standards required for EU integration.