Greece: North Macedonia is not immune to the phenomenon of money laundering

Slavica Grkovska, the deputy prime minister for good governance policies/Photo: Sloboden Pechat

North Macedonia is not immune to the phenomenon of money laundering, whose estimated value in the world according to statistical data is from two to five percent of the world's GDP, although last year a significant improvement was observed in the processing of money laundering cases, assesses the Deputy Prime Minister for Good Governance Policies , Slavica Grkovska.

Addressing the final conference of the Horizontal Program for the Western Balkans and Turkey of the European Union and the Council of Europe, which is being held in Budva, Montenegro, Grkovska said that last year a total of 12 criminal charges were filed against 61 people, 5 charges against 15 people, 7 judgments for 16 persons and 2 final judgments for 2 persons.

- These improvements are the result of the work of the national authorities and their commitment, but recognition should also be given to the work of the Action against economic crime in the past six years - said Grkovska.

The adoption of the Law on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, the implementation of which has already begun and which is in line with the latest international standards and directives of the European Union, as well as the preparation of the new Criminal Code, which is in its final stages, are key to improving systemic measures. in the fight against organized crime and terrorism.

The joint work through the project "Action against economic crime", which is carried out within the framework of the Horizontal Instrument for the Western Balkans and Turkey, as he said, enables a series of activities, such as the National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Risks, as well as drafting a National Strategy to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

What resulted from the joint cooperation, and what is very significant, is the preparation of the legal solution for the origin of property.

– This legal solution, when adopted, will be of great importance for identifying and confiscating property whose origin cannot be determined and will significantly contribute to the fight against corruption and all types of economic crime. We expect the support from the Council of Europe and the European Union to continue in this activity, with the aim of successful implementation of this law - said Grkovska.

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