North Macedonia adopts 2026–2030 strategy against fraud and to protect EU funds

At its latest meeting, the government adopted the Strategy for Combating Fraud and Protecting the Financial Interests of the European Union in the country for the 2026–2030 period, North Macedonia’s Ministry of Finance announced.

According to the Ministry, the document was prepared in line with commitments undertaken through the National Programme for the Adoption of EU Law (NPAA), under Chapter 32 – Financial Control. This chapter covers public internal financial control, external audit, safeguarding the EU’s financial interests and protecting the euro against counterfeiting.

The strategy aims to strengthen discipline and transparency in the use of public funds, both national funds and EU resources, as well as to ensure the protection of the European Union’s financial interests in North Macedonia.

The strategy was drafted by the Anti-Fraud Coordination Unit for EU Funds (AFCOS Unit) within the Ministry of Finance, following a participatory approach. All relevant stakeholders were involved in the process through cross-sectoral coordination with the institutions of the country’s Institutional Network for the Protection of the EU’s Financial Interests (AFCOS Network), the bodies and structures of the European Union funds management and control system, as well as the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

The 2026–2030 document provides for the implementation of reforms in several priority areas: preventing irregularities and fraud, identifying irregularities and suspected fraud cases, investigating and prosecuting fraud, recovering financial resources and imposing sanctions.

“Through the implementation of the strategy, the prevention of irregularities and fraud is expected to be strengthened, effective and proportionate anti-fraud measures introduced, tools and techniques for detecting irregularities and fraud improved, timely investigation and appropriate handling of reported suspected fraud cases ensured, and capacity strengthened to ensure proportionate and deterrent penalties, appropriate financial corrections and deterrent measures in cases of irregularities and fraud,” the Ministry of Finance said.