Overview: North Macedonia cooperated with U.S. counterterrorism efforts and was a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. With no terrorist attacks in 2018 and no reported departures to join ISIS, the main terrorism threat North Macedonia faced consisted of returning FTFs and the potential for radicalization to violence. In March, the government adopted the 2018-22 National Counterterrorism Strategy and a standalone 2018-2022 National Strategy for Countering Violent Extremism, both accompanied by national action plans.
North Macedonia’s authorities assessed that ISIS members and sympathizers maintained a presence in North Macedonia. The National Committee for Countering Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism (NCCVECT), the Ministry of Interior (MOI), and the Department of Security and Counterintelligence estimated that at least 156 citizens of North Macedonia have traveled to join terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq. Of that number, 35 were killed, approximately 38 remain, and 83 returned to North Macedonia. In August, North Macedonia repatriated and detained for investigation seven of its citizens from Syrian Democratic Forces’ custody, becoming one of the first countries to successfully do so and setting an example for the rest of the world to follow.
2018 Terrorist Incidents: There were no reported terrorist incidents in North Macedonia in 2018.
Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: North Macedonia’s legislative framework is adequate to prosecute individuals and groups suspected of committing or aiding terrorist activities or participating in foreign wars. On March 6, the government adopted separate national strategies on counterterrorism and CVE, accompanied by respective action plans, which were drafted with U.S. support and input from civil society.
North Macedonian law enforcement’s capacity to proactively detect, deter, and prevent acts of terrorism improved as a result of numerous trainings and the development of operational plans to prevent and respond to possible terrorist attacks. The MOI’s Anti-Terrorism Unit takes the lead in performing counterterrorism functions.
North Macedonia’s criminal justice leaders cooperated with the United States on terrorism-related matters. On December 27, North Macedonia’s Public Prosecution Office filed indictments in court against the seven FTFs repatriated from Syria in August under Articles 394 and 322 of the criminal code, which criminalize membership and participation in a terrorist organization, respectively.
Countering the Financing of Terrorism: North Macedonia is a member of MONEYVAL, a FATF-style regional body. North Macedonia’s FIU, the Financial Intelligence Office (FIO), is a member of the Egmont Group. North Macedonia’s AML/CFT legal framework remains largely in compliance with international standards. In 2018, North Macedonia agreed to join the Group of Seven (G-7) 24/7 Network to combat cybercrime and counterterrorism networks.
In 2018, the Government of North Macedonia continued to address deficiencies noted in MONEYVAL’s 2014 Fourth Round Evaluation Report by drafting a new law on restrictive measures. Following approval in parliament on June 26, the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing harmonized domestic legislation with UNSCR 1373 as well as with FATF recommendations on targeted financial sanctions related to terrorism. The law defined the FIO’s scope of work, as well as the obligations of government authorities and other entities to identify and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing, and to conduct a national risk assessment. This law supplemented the criminal code to address terrorism and expanded criminal liability of those who finance terrorist activities or are involved in terrorist offences. As of October, North Macedonia’s FIO received two suspicious transaction reports for terrorist financing. One report was dismissed, and the second report is currently being processed.
Countering Violent Extremism: In March, the government adopted national counterterrorism and CVE strategies and accompanying action plans. The NCCVECT oversees implementation. The number of activities anticipated in the action plans was not sufficiently supported by the NCCVECT’s budget. The Committee therefore heavily relied on the international donor community for funding and program implementation. The Committee focused on CVE prevention and counter-messaging, developing local community resilience, and prison reform. The Department of State supported a Mothers School Program and a regional counter-messaging program that aimed to stem terrorist recruitment online. Additionally, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, EU, Council of Europe, and OSCE implemented a range of CVE projects in North Macedonia.
The municipalities of Aracinovo, Cair (Skopje), Gostivar, Kicevo, Kumanovo, Ohrid, Struga, and Tetovo in North Macedonia are members of the Strong Cities Network.
International and Regional Cooperation: North Macedonia is a willing international and regional counterterrorism partner. Since the NCCVECT was established in 2017, it has focused on increasing regional cooperation with similar counterterrorism and CVE coordination bodies in neighboring countries. The NCCVECT signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Albania in December 2017 and anticipates signing an MOU with Kosovo to cement counterterrorism and CVE cooperation. North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania also began drafting a trilateral CVE Action Plan, and are working on harmonizing it with the Joint Action Plans for CVE between the Western Balkans Six and the EU, which was signed in October. NCCVECT members actively participated in various regional and international CVE conferences.
