Skopje, 4 December 2023 (MIA) — The state's interdepartmental body for coordinating anti-corruption activities met Monday to go over the findings of the European Commission in its latest report related to corruption in North Macedonia. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Good Governance Policies Slavica Grkovska.

According to an official press release, members discussed the findings and recommendations in the EC report. They also spoke about their current activities and steps they plan to take within their competences.

Deputy Prime Minister Grkovska stressed that all institutions should take their jobs seriously and contribute to the fight against corruption.

"We should all have the same goal: an efficient system resistant to corruption and influence, a system that works impartially," Grkovska said.

"There are no radical changes overnight, but everyone needs to do what is necessary within their competences as soon as possible," she said.

The meeting concluded with a plan to make a review, by Dec. 15, of draft laws stuck in parliamentary procedure and necessary additional amendments; to define specific short, medium and long term activities for each institution, forming an action plan for the interdepartmental body; and draw up criteria for transparency in the use of donor funding and loan-based projects.

According to the press release, civil sector representatives also took part in the meeting as observers monitoring the work of the anticorruption body. mr/