Skopje, 5 July 2023 (MIA) - Customs Administration director Stefan Bogoev met Wednesday with Andreja Dolničar Jeraj, Programme Director at the Centre for European Perspective, discussing the strengthening of capacities for conducting financial investigations which is of exceptional importance for further progress in achieving European standards and criteria within Chapter 24 on financial investigations and procedures for confiscation of property benefits acquired by crime and property of illegal origin.

Visits by experts from Slovenia are planned in the next period of two years, to share experience and knowledge in the field of financial investigations, which is expected to result in further improvement of the expertise of customs officials in this area. As part of the planned activities, trainings are being held this week for the practical application of the procedures for conducting financial investigations for customs officials and officials from other institutions involved in the process, the Customs Administration said in a press release. 

"The constant advancement of the expertise for conducting financial investigations and the strengthening of capacities that provide evidence for the prosecution of more serious criminal activities is of great importance and is one of the activities high on the agenda of the Customs Administration," Bogoev said. 

Dolničar Jeraj extended congratulations on the progress made by the authorities on the path to achieving European standards and criteria within Chapter 24, as well as the achieved high level of alignment in terms of Chapter 29, which is managed by the Customs Administration in the European integration process.

"I'd like to express my satisfaction that the authorities showed confidence and readiness to apply the experience and knowledge of their colleagues from the Republic of Slovenia. In the past years, as part of the Slovenian Development Cooperation Programme, two projects were successfully implemented, thus not only increasing knowledge in the area of ​​financial investigations, but also establishing common guidelines for financial investigations, as well as standardized operational procedures," said Dolničar Jeraj. 

The project is part of programme activities of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and carried out together with the State Prosecution, Financial Administration and Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Slovenia, as well as the Customs Administration, Public Prosecutor's Office, Financial Police Office and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia.