Brussels, 6 March 2024 (MIA) – Deputy PM for Good Governance Policies Slavica Grkovska met with the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), Gert Jan Koopman, in Brussels on Wednesday. Talks focused on the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which includes as one of its pillars accelerating the reform processes in the area of the rule of law and improving the efficiency of the judiciary and public administration.

Grkovska highlighted the importance of the European Commission's Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, as a strong mechanism for bridging the period until North Macedonia's full-fledged EU membership.  

In terms of activities of the Office for Good Governance Policies over the past period, Grkovska briefed participants in the meeting on the law on confiscation of property in civil proceedings, which was passed in Parliament last week and is to serve as an additional anti-corruption mechanism in national legislation, MIA's Brussels correspondent reports. 

The Deputy PM noted that the legal solution itself provides for strengthening of capacities and setting up a sector within the Financial Police Office specialized in this law, adding that she will insist on increasing funds allocated to the Financial Police Office, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the State Attorney's Office with the rebalancing of the Budget. 

Grkovska and Koopman also discussed activities related to the digital transformation of society, as a process to strengthen the establishing of good governance policies at all levels. 

Talks also tackled the need to step up activities towards informing the citizens about the importance of the European integration process, as well as the European Union's steadfast support to the country, in parallel with implementing the measures within the Plan.   

Grkovska met Koopman as part of her working visit to Brussels, where she is set to address "Women in Public Life" forum hosted by European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová. 

Photo: Government