14th July 2026, Skopje – At its most recent session, the Government adopted the National Anti-Fraud Strategy for the Protection of the Financial Interests of the European Union in the Republic of North Macedonia for the period 2026–2030. The Strategy is prepared in line with the obligations undertaken within the National Programme for Adoption of the Acquis under Chapter 32 - Financial Control, which includes: public internal financial control, external audit, protection of the financial interests of the EU and protection of the euro against counterfeiting, and it is aimed to contribute to improving both the discipline and the transparency in the use of public funds (national and EU funds), but also to ensure the protection of the financial interests of the EU in the Republic of North Macedonia.
The Strategy was developed by the Ministry of Finance’s EU Anti-Fraud Coordination Unit (AFCOS Unit) through a participatory approach, involving all relevant stakeholders, ensuring inter-sectoral coordination, as well as cooperation with the institutions within the Institutional Network for Protection of the Financial Interests of the EU in the country (AFCOS Network), the structures and bodies within the EU Funds Management and Control System, and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
2026 - 2030 Anti-Fraud Strategy for Protection of the Financial Interests of the European Union in the Republic of North Macedonia provides for the implementation of reform in the priority areas related to prevention of irregularities and fraud, detection of irregularities and suspected fraud cases, investigation and prosecution of fraud cases, recoveries and sanctions. By implementing the Strategy, the expected results are strengthening the prevention of irregularities and fraud, establishing effective and proportionate anti-fraud measures, improving tools and techniques for detecting irregularities and fraud, ensuring timely investigation and adequate treatment of reported cases of suspected fraud, as well as strengthening capacity for ensuring proportionate and dissuasive penalties, adequate financial adjustments for the sake of deterrence of irregularities and fraud.
The National Anti-Fraud Strategy promotes a zero-tolerance approach to fraud in the implementation of EU programmes. It was first adopted in 2019 with the objective of strengthening the legal, institutional, and operational framework for the prevention, detection, and combating of irregularities and fraud involving EU funds.
