Skopje, 12 February 2025 (MIA) - The Public Prosecutor's Office (PPO) Eurojust liaison prosecutor held Wednesday an online meeting with representatives of the Europol analytical center specialized in the fight against corruption, in order to discuss possibilities for enhanced cooperation in cases involving corruption.

Based on the meeting conclusions and considering the guidelines for prioritizing corruption cases, the Chief Prosecutor supplemented the guidelines towards regulating the procedure to secure data and information on bank accounts, property or items of interest located abroad, which relate to corruption cases, involving individuals or public office holders, i.e. regardless of their role and status, the PPO said in a press release.

According to the provisions, if corruption cases include information or indication that suspects might hold bank accounts, property or items of interest located abroad, such circumstances must be investigated, with prosecutors able to use Europol expertise and databases.

The guidelines have been adopted considering the lengthy international cooperation proceedings, and precedence will be given to checks of indications or information related to the existence of bank accounts, property or items of interest located abroad through Europol channels, prior to launching a formal process of securing evidence by way of international cooperation.

Checks will be carried out through the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC), with the guidelines clarifying the way in which such a request is drafted and forwarded, as well as the related deadlines, reads the press release.

MIA file photo