GRECO conducts Sixth-Round evaluation visit to North Macedonia
GRECO
A delegation comprising four GRECO evaluators from Czechia, Hungary, Ireland and Montenegro, a scientific expert and two members of the Secretariat visited North Macedonia from 2 to 6 November 2026 to carry out the country’s on-site evaluation under GRECO’s Sixth Round. The Round focuses on preventing corruption and promoting integrity at the sub-national level. The City of Skopje and the Municipality of Kumanovo volunteered to participate in this evaluation.
During the visit, the delegation met with representatives of central institutions, national oversight bodies, municipal councils, mayors, and municipal administrations. It also held discussions with the Association of the Units of Local Self-Government, civil society representatives, the media and academics.
Combating End-to-End Illicit Financial Flows Linked to Scam Compounds: Applying the FATF Toolkit to the Fraud Epidemic
FATF
Scam compounds are networked, industrialised and transnational criminal infrastructures that may operate through large physical compounds, smaller or decentralised cells, and specialised service providers connected through common controllers, financial infrastructure and operational dependencies.
The FATF’s report, Combating End-to-End Illicit Financial Flows Linked to Scam Compounds has examined scam compounds through a financial flows lens, tracing how criminal proceeds are generated, moved, laundered and reinvested.
Germany: Individual arrested over €1.1 million fraud involving subsidies for renovation of historic buildings and suspected arson
European Public Prosecutor's Office
(Luxembourg, 6 November 2026) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Berlin (Germany), an individual was arrested this week on suspicion of fraudulently obtaining over €1.1 million in EU subsidies intended for the renovation of two historic buildings. He is also suspected of deliberately setting fire to one of the buildings in an attempt to conceal the alleged fraud.
The arrested suspect was the representative of two non-profit associations based in the German federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. He applied for and received EU subsidies from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), totalling €1 126 299, for the renovation of two historic buildings, including energy-efficiency improvements. The buildings were intended for cultural activities, following their renovation.