Skopje, 27 September 2022 (MIA) - The adoption of the law on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism, whose implementation has already begun and which is in line with the latest international standards and EU directives, as well as the preparation of the new criminal code, which is in its final stages, are crucial to improving the systemic measures in combating organized crime and terrorism, Deputy PM for good governance policies Slavica Grkovska said. Deputy PM Grkovska attended the two-day closing conference in Budva, Montenegro on "Action against economic crime" project, which is implemented within the European Union and Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey” programme. “The support from the Council of Europe and the European Union aimed at improving and developing systems and practices of good governance, is of key importance for the Republic of North Macedonia and I believe that this fruitful cooperation will continue in the coming period as well,” Grkovska said. According to the latest statistics, she said that estimated amount of money laundered globally in one year is 2-5% of global GDP. “Unfortunately, North Macedonia is not spared from this phenomenon and faces a great challenge in the fight against this crime. A significant improvement was registered in the processing of money laundering cases in 2021. A total of 12 criminal charges were filed against 61 people, five charges were filed against 15 people, seven verdicts were reached for 16 people and two final verdicts were delivered for two people. These improvements are the result of the work of the national authorities and their commitment, but recognition should also be given to the work of the action against economic crime in the past six years,” Grkovska noted. She assessed that the joint work through this project enabled a series of activities, such as the National Money Laundering/Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment as well as the preparation of anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing national strategy, her office said in a press release. “The law on origin of property, when adopted, will be of great importance for identifying and confiscating property whose origin cannot be determined and will significantly contribute to the fight against corruption and all types of economic crime. We expect the support from the Council of Europe and the European Union to continue in this activity, in order to successfully implement this law,” Grkovska underlined.