Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

YOUTH OF ACTION!

April, 2013

Macedonian Centre for European Training and Foundation Open Society – Macedonia dedicate this report to the journalist and advocate for freedom of expression, Nikola Mladenov, and his eternal struggle “to clarify the matters”. youth of action! Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

Publisher: Foundation Open Society - Macedonia For the publisher: Vladimir Milcin, Executive Director Prepared by: Macedonian Center for European Training and Foundation Open Society - Macedonia Proofreading and Translation into English: Abacus Design & Layout: Brigada design, Print: Propoint Circulation: 500 Free/Noncommercial circulation

CIP - Каталогизација во публикација Национална и универзитетска библиотека "Св. Климент Охридски", Скопје

35.075.51:37(497.7)"2007/12"(047.31)

МЛАДИ во акција! : седумнаесетти извештај од следењето на процесот на пристапување на Македонија во ЕУ. - Скопје : Фондација отворено општество - Македонија, 2013. - 90 стр. : илустр. ; 24 см Фусноти кон текстот

ISBN 978-608-218-177-6

а) Национална агенција за европски образовни програми и мобилност - Македонија - 2007-2012 - Истражувања COBISS.MK-ID 93957386 CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Now we see Bosko Nelkoski, former Director of the National Agency, in an extended and upgraded version of the past. His character becomes All data collected as part of this research indicates to a reasonably more and more interesting. Bosko Nelkoski was appointed to the position grounded suspicion that in 2012 the National Agency for European Head of the National Agency coming from the leading party’s Youth Educational Programmes and Mobility (hereinafter: the National Agency) Alliance, in other words: a politically active person. Apart from being the has yet again awarded project grants in an unfair and biased manner to head of this important institution, Nelkoski appears as director of the the benefit of the same privileged group of civil society organizations non-governmental Pan-European Alliance, and manager of an agricultural (CSOs) as previously. In all fairness, CSOs from the Republic of Macedonia firm. In addition, Bosko Nelkoski is the founder of CSO Youth Forum Eye with relevant capacity are rightfully awarded grants by various donors from Struga (his birthplace), associate and trainer of most CSOs that and they, in turn, demonstrate excellent results in their work. The main have benefited from grants awarded by the National Agency, but also by reason behind this institutionally refashioned scandal is identified Brussels (Career Centre from Bitola, Council of Youth NGOs, Youth Creative in the fact that crime continues to go unsanctioned in the Republic Centre from Veles, Macedonian Youth Press, Youth Development Fund from of Macedonia, as well as that 2010 correction measures proved to be Ohrid, Denica, etc.). Through his father, Trajce Nelkoski, Bosko Nelkoski’s inadequate. Personal relations between some National Agency employees name is linked to CSOs Centre for Ruran1 Development in Southeast Europe and specific representatives of grant-awarded CSOs continue to exist, and Fund for Inter-Regional Cooperation, as well as the privately-owned giving leverage to a handful of organizations compared to other CSOs in company Agronomija Organika, whose founders are two persons who are Macedonia, and thereby significantly hindering open competition under also heads of sectors at the National Agency, both recruited by Bosko equitable and fair terms and conditions. Nelkoski himself. One of the founders comes from Delcevo, while the The main character in this episode is yet again Bosko Nelkoski, other is from Skopje, the seat of the company however is village Draslajca, former Director of the National Agency, who was never sanctioned, not which is the birthplace of Bosko Nelkoski’s father who – by the way – is even dismissed from office for the malpractices performed in 2009. also a three-time beneficiary of agricultural subsidies awarded by the Obviously, Nelkoski’s handpicked dream-team stayed loyal to him Government of Republic of Macedonia. and continued to award grants to “familiar” organizations. This time Obviously, “First Brussels, then Skopje” approach works as clockwork. however, the practice seems fine-tuned: first, the organizations apply Same non-governmental (para)youth organizations appear as grant- on centralized Calls for Proposals from Brussels. Getting a grant from beneficiaries of the National Agency, but also as beneficiaries of the Brussels is not as difficult as one might imagine, especially having in Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (hereinafter: the mind that the National Agency discloses actual information on Calls for Executive Agency) from Brussels, under centralized actions. Except Proposals only to a “special” group of privileged organizations. As soon for Career Centre, Volunteers Centre and several other organizations, as the project application is approved by Brussels, the organization receives a green light for becoming “successful” bidder in the National 1 Agency as well. Such a practice is perfect alibi for the National Agency’s Translator’s note: the word ‘rural’ is misspelled on purpose, as explained later in the document. To convey the truthfulness of the text, conscious misspelling was made in “impeccable grant-giving track record”. the English translation as well. 7 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

Brussels has approved funds for the organizations enlisted in Table 1 made to cover up the actual addresses (for example, Council of Youth NGOs that provides an overview on the number of projects approved and the appears as a grant-beneficiary in 8 projects (total value of 158,582.50 relevant project amounts. EUR) and relevant contact information for each of these 8 project No. of Funds awarded until applications submitted to Brussels include an address different from the No. Organization projects 2011 (in EUR) organization’s official seat. Cases are identified where an entire group 1. Volunteers Centre Skopje 19 385.628,00 of non-governmental organizations use one address (for example, Fund 2. Youth Forum Eye 11 235.211,50 for Inter-Regional Cooperation shares the same address with Youth Forum 3. Macedonian Youth Press 8 166.698,00 Eye). In that regard, it should be noted that Trajce Nelkoski, father of 4. Council of Youth NGOs 8 158.582,50 the former Director of the National Agency, appears as the organization’s 5. Youth Development Fund 5 101.611,00 founder and is probably the oldest youth activist in the World. Coordinated 6. Centre for Ruran Development in Southeast Europe 5 92.104,00 activities are also identified in terms of (re)registration of CSOs. Various 7. Denica 4 66.214,00 changes are made to the records kept by the Central Register of the 8. Quantum 2 29.696,00 Republic of Macedonia, ranging from change of authorized persons to 9. Youth Creative Centre 1 24.941,00 changes made to the organizations’ names and/or seats (for example, 10. Fund for Inter-Regional Cooperation 1 23.384,00 Centre for Ruran Development, which raises the question on why the 11. Clear Future 1 18.418,00 Central Register enlisted an organization with a spelling mistake in its Total 1.302.488,00 title?). This group also includes organizations whose non-governmental Table 1 – Centralized projects status is suspicious, judging on the basis of their activities (for example, The analysis shows that the total amount of “suspicious” funds Denica is known to the Macedonian public as the organizer of counter- exceeds 1.3 million EUR, which is a rather significant figure that should protests on Skopje square related to the construction of a church), etc. raise concerns in the European Commission. It seems that the same group Although the seat of the Macedonian Youth Press is in Struga, in of people has applied with different projects on the Calls for Proposals several projects Skopje-based addresses are enlisted such as Blvd. announced by Brussels. We see the same founders submitting different Kozjak 9a, in Kisela Voda. project applications from one address or vice versa (for example, although This analysis shows that the reason for such behaviour on the part of its seat is in Struga, Macedonian Youth Press has applied with several the National Agency is the fact that its institutionalization from the very projects with an address in Skopje). The people responsible for project beginning was full of flaws, dating back to the time when the Law on implementation are related to the employees at the National Agency, Establishing the National Agency was adopted. Despite the warnings of but are skilful in disguising their connections (Verica Kocevska, Bosko the opposition, the ruling coalition adopted the law that later enabled all Nelkoski’s wife, is indicated as the contact-person in one of these projects these abuses and malpractices. Unfortunately, even the amendments to and she – purposefully or not – decided to use her maiden name, although the law, adopted after the abuses and malpractices were publicly disclosed, she took her husband’s family name when she got married). Attempts are did not correct the situation. The main perpetrators were not sanctioned.

8 Neither was Bosko Nelkoski sanctioned, nor were the employees – recruited 2. Possible involvement of the audit-company Effect Plus in the scheme by him personally – changed. It should be noted that in February 2010, the should be investigated; Foundation Open Society – Macedonia (FOSM) raised an initiative in the 3. Initiative of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption Constitutional Court concerning the composition of the National Agency’s for criminal prosecution of Bosko Nelkoski, the former Director of Executive Board. The initiative however was rejected by the Court once the the National Agency, and other persons related to him, should be law was amended and the specific organizations mentioned in the law’s effectuated; first version were deleted from the legal text. 4. Amendments to the Law on Establishing the National Agency for Additional support for the employees at the National Agency European Educational Programmes and Mobility should be adopted, (including Bosko Nelkoski) came from the audit report drafted by a local, thereby including provisions on a different composition of the albeit chartered audit company contracted by the Minister of Education National Agency’s Executive Board. Namely, the number of members at the time, Nikola Todorov, in Spring 2010. Notably, according to the of the Executive Board should be increased to nine (9) and its findings presented by the national auditor Nikolaki Miov from the composition should include representatives from the following Skopje-based company Effect Plus, the irregularities identified were stakeholders: 1) Ministry of Education and Science; 2) Ministry of insignificant. Hence, an impression was created that the former Director Finance; 3) National Agency; 4) principal of a primary school; 5) was only a misfortunate victim of the media. principal of a secondary school; 6) principal of a VET school; 7) The fact that the findings of this audit company – also known to representative from a university; 8) representative from a training the public for its positive audit reports of MRTV (Public Broadcasting institution; and 9) member from a youth/student organization Service) – did not correspond with findings of the State Audit Office (probably from the National Council of Republic of Macedonia, (that found serious legal violations), as well as findings of the State which is in the making). Executive Board’s new composition would Commission for Prevention of Corruption (that established conflict of more likely guarantee equitable representation of all stakeholders; interest and abuse of office), did not alert the competent authorities, 5. All grant contracts signed with non-governmental organizations including the Public Prosecutor. under the first two deadlines of the 2012 Call for Proposals should It seems that the unresolved problems from 2009 have resurrected, be audited, in compliance with Article 96 of Council Regulation (EC, imposing a serious threat for the Republic of Macedonia. What was then Euratom) No. 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on financial regulations noted as a problem, today is equal to organized crime. In order to resolve applicable to the general budget of the European Communities; this shocking predicament, the Republic of Macedonia must implement 6. Real campaign promoting the programmes Lifelong Learning and the following recommendations: Youth in Action should be implemented to guarantee that information 1. Operation of the National Agency should be thoroughly audited by a on the opportunities and advantages offered by these programmes real independent audit company. At the same time, the involvement reach all youth organizations active in the Republic of Macedonia. of the employees in conspicuous activities should be examined and adequately sanctioned;

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...I... hen the first Quarterly Accession Watch Report was published in April 2009, the Macedonian Centre for European Training (MCET) and the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia (FOSM) were led by the fact that Macedonia’s EU Agenda, Wwhich enjoyed enormous support in public, cannot be owned by one political party or government. Main goal of the Accession Watch Project is to contribute to Macedonia’s accelerated integration in the European Union by monitoring the accession process and timely REASONS FOR reacting to activities implemented in Macedonia that would negatively affect its integration in the EU. CONDUCTING As the years passed, the focus of the accession watch process changed depending on the current developments related to THIS RESEARCH Macedonia’s EU integration. Hence, in the course of 2009 and 2010, monitoring activities were focused on key priorities from the Accession Partnership1, while in the course of 2011 and 2012 they

1 Council Decision 2008/212/ЕС of 18 February 2008 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with the Republic of Macedonia and

11 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report targeted the High Level Accession Dialogue (hereinafter: HLAD) as assesses the implementation of the programme Youth in Action. the new instrument designed to support the enlargement process. Reasons for targeting this programme are identified in the events Several Accession Watch Report editions target specific topics related from November 2012, when the public learned about a new, second to Macedonia’s accession in the EU, such as the annual revisions to the in a row, affair at the National Agency, which was reported in several National Programme for Adoption of the EU Acquis. articles published by the daily newspaper Fokus. Moreover, on 30 Having in mind that utilization of EU funds is an equally important November 2012, Radmila Sekerinska, in the capacity of President of the topic for EU integration and indicator of reform processes in the country, National Council for European Integration, held a press conference on the Twelfth Accession Watch Report was dedicated to the Instrument grant-awarded pilot-projects from the first and second deadline of the for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).2 Second edition of the Accession 2012 Call for Proposals announced for the programme Youth in Action Watch Report focused on IPA will be published by the end of 2013 and and organized by the National Agency, when she stated: “Last time, will include updated information. This report could serve as baseline for nobody was held accountable for their actions because the Prime Minister programming funds committed under IPA II – the financial instrument considered that moral responsibility is sufficient. Therefore, when crime 4 for the period 2014-2020. goes unsanctioned, it is repeated”. Beyond the Accession Watch Project, MCET carried out a research In reaction, a public statement was issued by Snezana Manceva, that inquired about the absorption capacity of beneficiaries from the employee at the National Agency responsible for the programme Youth Republic of Macedonia of the so-called Community Programmes (renamed in Action, wherein she claimed that the selection process was made Union Programmes from 2014). This study was published in February in compliance with the rulebooks and procedures in effect, and the 2012 under the title “Detour: Europe via Community Programmes”3 and CSOs benefiting from grants awarded by the National Agency are not analysed Macedonia’s participation in five programmes, those being: successful only on Calls for Proposals announced in Macedonia, but also 1) Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP); 2) Seventh in Brussels. Her words resembled the statement made by Bosko Nelkoski Framework Programme (FP7); 3) Europe for the Citizens; 4) PROGRESS; prior to submitting his letter of resignation after the first affair at the and 5) Culture. National Agency was publicly disclosed. Two other programmes – Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action - are Under moral obligation to investigate this story, in particular because managed by the National Agency for European Educational Programmes it was MCET and FOSM that first detected the affair at the National 5 and Mobility. This Quarterly Accession Watch Report analyses and Agency , this report addresses the work of the National Agency. Aware of obscure information published by the National Agency on its official website, the authors believe that this report will contribute to providing repealing Decision 2006/57/ЕС. Available at: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/ actual information and facts on these matters. Unfortunately, the enlargement/western_balkans/r18013_en.htm 2 Twelfth Quarterly Accession Watch Report titled “IPA-minding”, April 2012. Available on MCET’s website: http://mcet.org.mk/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/AW-12-ZA-WEB-MK1.pdf 4 http://24vesti.mk/kade-zavrshuvaat-evropskite-pari-za-mladi 3 http://mcet.org.mk/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/11/prekutrupa-za-evropa- 5 Third Quarterly Accession Watch Report titled “MK@EU Lisbon-Skopje-Athens”, October mk.pdf 2009, pg. 60. Available at: http://soros.org.mk/dokumenti/Tret-izvestaj-MK-so-CIP.pdf

12 REASONS FOR CONDUCTING THIS RESEARCH

National Agency’s website is not regularly updated, provides only partial Educational Programmes and Mobility and the amendments thereto, information and lacks transparency (for example, it does not publish shorthand notes from the meetings held at the Parliament concerning the final results from the 2012 Open Call announced for appointment of the National Agency, documents developed by the Government of the contract-persons for the programme Youth in Action). Some lists, such Republic of Macedonia and the European Union (National Programmes as the list of grants awarded under the second deadline of the Call for for Adoption of the EU Acquis – Revisions 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and Proposals for Youth in Action are uploaded in unnoticeable locations 2008; EC’s Progress Reports for the Republic of Macedonia for the years of internal links on the website, while others are not published at all. 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; Council Decision on the principles, priorities On the account of these facts, MCET and FOSM decided to develop this and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with the Republic analysis. This report raises the questions whether information about of Macedonia, Brussels, February 2008), etc. Furthermore, the analysis funding opportunities offered by EU programmes, institutions and funds relies on publicly available information, records on legal entities kept actually reach the youth organizations; how is information on these by the Central Register of the Republic of Macedonia, as well as other opportunities disseminated; why only a small group of organizations relevant national and EU documents. was awarded grants under the said programmes; did the National Agency In order to obtain a comprehensive image on the situation, this favour certain organizations to the detriment of other CSOs? report covers the period from the establishment of the National Agency to present (March 2013). This was deemed necessary so as to obtain a realistic image about the work of this exceptionally important 1. METHODOLOGY institution for the Europeization process in the Republic of Macedonia. For the purpose of this report, in addition to standard analysis of The purpose of this Quarterly Accession Watch Report is to publicly key documents and desk research, interviews were conducted with raise the issue about the work of the National Agency in the context of several CSOs profiled in youth policy issues. Freedom of Information the Republic of Macedonia’s integration in the EU. Subject of analysis mechanism was also used to obtain information on addresses, founders are current events and developments related to the National Agency, and authorized persons of relevant entities enlisted in the Central especially the manner in which it administered the last Call for Proposals Register of the Republic of Macedonia. for CSOs profiled in youth policy issues. 16 media outlets were monitored as well, those being: six daily This report provides a detailed analysis of the list of successful newspapers (; ; ; Vecer; and projects from the first and second deadline of the 2012 Call for Proposals Fokus), prime-time news programmes on seven TV stations with national (February and May, respectively) announced by the National Agency, and satellite coverage (Kanal 5; Sitel; Telma; MTV 1; Alfa; Alsat-M; and but also the list of projects approved by the Education, Audiovisual Vesti24)6, as well as three news web-portals (Plusinfo; SkyMK and Kurir). and Culture Executive Agency in Brussels under centralized actions for the programme Youth in Action, together with the reference numbers, Research findings presented in this report are flabbergasting. Based project descriptions, addresses and contact-persons. The analysis also 6 includes the Law on Establishing the National Agency for European Media Monitoring is a partnership project implemented with the NGO Info-Centre from Skopje. 13 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report on previous experiences with the competent authorities and the National Agency, when the first affair was practically pushed under the carpet and nobody was held accountable for the actions taken, this report is endorsed by a Network of CSOs and urges the competent authorities and system institutions to take adequate measures to correct the situation. These CSOs are in the process of establishing a formal coalition/network, which will take additional activities in the next period.

14 ...II... he instruments designed by EU in order to deliver the objectives defined under the Lisbon Agenda include the so-called Community Programmes. They provide a separate source of funding intended to support various projects of beneficiaries from Member States and Taimed to contribute to deepened European integration in given areas that in time might be transformed into EU common policies. On this account, the Community Programmes focus on: a) areas within the competences of Member States that are considered sensitive issues (education, culture, media, human rights, etc.); b) areas where the integration process does ANALYSIS not suffice and could be improved (customs, taxation, social protection, antidiscrimination and others); and c) new areas liable to development of common policy on EU level, on the basis of results from projects implemented as part of Community Programmes (energy, climate change, European citizenship, active citizenship, etc.). All EU Member States are aware that mutual cooperation in these areas is very important and therefore, every seven years, when the new financial framework is developed, request the European Commission to develop and implement these programmes.

15 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

1. WHAT ARE COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES? 1.1. How are Community Programmes implemented?

Knowing that these programmes are financed from EU’s budget, and Most Community Programmes are implemented centrally (in Brussels) the budget is supported by the citizens of EU Member States, the right by the European Commission, i.e., Directorates General competent for to benefit from these funds is given only to EU citizens. Nevertheless, different policies. Due to the complexity, specificity, but also the scope the Enlargement Policy implies that candidate countries will become of individual programmes, the European Commission established several EU Member States in due time. Therefore, it was considered useful for separate executive agencies to assist in managing individual (sub) citizens of these countries to participate in the Community Programmes, programmes. These agencies organize and implement Calls for Proposals, in particular because that would enable them to join networks established receive project applications, evaluate and select project applications and at EU level, but also develop new networks that would initiate joint monitor project implementation. The Education, Audiovisual and Culture projects and thereby accelerate the country’s EU accession. Executive Agency (hereinafter: EACEA7) is responsible for the programmes To provide equal footing for these countries’ participation in the Culture, Europe for Citizens, MEDIA, Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action. Community Programme, the European Commission requires a financial Due to the programmes’ character and complicated institutional and contribution from their national budgets. The requirements, rules and management structures, each participating state is obliged to institute procedures governing the participation in the Community Programmes national contact-points that operate as programme coordinators and are are regulated by means of Memoranda of Understanding and imply responsible for the promotion, transfer and distribution of programme the same rules on financial control and audit as those applied for EU information to the broad public and to potential beneficiaries. They Member States. This financial participation is called “entry ticket” also facilitate networking and identification of relevant partners in and its amount is set in the Memorandum of Understanding signed for other participating countries, and take part in meetings and working each programme and year individually. In cases when the concerned sessions organized by the standing committees responsible to manage country does not utilize the amount paid as entry ticket, funds paid individual programmes. For their work, the national contact-points (or as entry ticket cannot be refunded. This is why the countries, prior to promoters) receive symbolic remuneration. For example, contact-points selecting the Community Programmes where they wish to participate, for the programme Youth in Action receive a monthly remuneration in must first develop a solid analysis on the relevant capacity of domestic the amount of 80 EUR. organizations to absorb the funds available by means of project applications. The European Commission is aware of the fact that countries such 1.2. Macedonia and Community Programmes as Macedonia dispose with limited funds and therefore, in the initial (2007-2013) stage, it allows the candidate country to use IPA funds to co-finance the In 2006, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia adopted the relevant entry tickets. This co-financing should decrease in time, i.e., Decision to start negotiations for participation in nine (9) priority over a period of several programme years, so that in the end, the entry ticket would be paid only from the national budget. 7 http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/index_en.php 16 ANALYSIS

Community Programmes, those being: 1) Seventh Framework Programme of measures on education and training into one programme dedicated to for Research and Technological Development (FP7); 2) Competitiveness lifelong learning and at the same time fulfil the objectives of the Lisbon and Innovation Programme (CIP); 3) Europe for Citizens; 4) PROGRESS; 5) Strategy. In the late 1980s, the six programmes in the field of education Culture; 6) MEDIA; 7) Lifelong Learning; 8) Youth in Action; and 9) LIFE +. and training (Erasmus, Lingua, Comett, PETRA, FORCE, Eurotecnet, Moreover, in 2007 and 2008, the Government decided to join additional without Tempus), were simplified and merged into two programmes, one five (5) Community Programmes, as follows: 1) Fiscalis; 2) Customs; 3) in each field. In 2004, additional actions were taken to simplify and Prevention and Fight against Crime; 4) Health; and 5) Civil Protection streamline the programme, which resulted in an integrated programme Financial Mechanism. for education and training whose budget amounted to almost 7 billion 9 Participation in the programmes Youth in Action and Lifelong Learning EUR. was planned to start in 2008. The National Agency for European The programme Lifelong Learning is established with the Decision Educational Programmes and Mobility (hereinafter: the National No. 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and the Council.10 This Agency8) was expected to obtain the accreditation for administration programme serves the purpose of fulfilling objectives defined under of decentralized actions after the successful implementation of pilot- the Lisbon Strategy. It is comprised of four sectoral programmes, plus projects funded under IPA. Unfortunately, instead of awarding the the so-called Transversal Programme and Jean Monnet Programme accreditation, the EC suspended the funds for the National Agency for a (Figure 1). Different guides are developed for each of the four sectoral period longer than 20 months due to conflict of interests in the grant- programmes, but they are all managed by the EC.11 awarding procedure. The new process of accreditation was expected to start in January 2012, after the National Agency has implemented the measures anticipated in its Action Plan aimed to correct the weaknesses identified. In order to be granted full accreditation (i.e., the right for decentralized management of funds from these two programmes), the National Agency needs a certain period of time to demonstrate its credibility. In the meantime, Macedonian citizens are patiently waiting for the institutions to implement their tasks and duties.

9 Together with the 885 million EUR allocated for the programme Youth in Action, EC has 1.3. Lifelong Learning committed a total of 7.855 billion EUR from the EU’s total budget of 769 billion EUR. 10 Decision 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November In 2004, the EC adopted the fourth generation of Community 2006, establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning, Brussels: Official Programmes (2007-2013) intended to create conditions for integration Journal of the European Union L 327/45, 24.11.2006 11 European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture, (2009) Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) Guide 2009 Part II: Sub-Programmes and Actions, Brussels: 8 For more information visit: http://na.org.mk/ European Communities.

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The programme Comenius is named after Leonardo da Vinci is the sectoral programme the educator and writer from Moravia, Jan Amos for vocational education and training (VET), Comenius (1592-1670) who strived for universal named after the famous Italian painter, sculptor, education and is considered the father of architect, , scientist, mathematician, modern education. Therefore, as expected, this engineer, inventor, geologist, botanist, writer, programme’s focus is on early education: pre-school etc. who lived from 1452 to 1519. As a scientist, and primary education to secondary education. It he promoted knowledge in the field of human is open to all actors involved in school education: anatomy, construction, optics and hydrodynamics. pupils, teachers, local authorities, parents’ associations, civil society Therefore, this programme provides links between policies and practice organizations, teacher training institutions, universities and other in VET. It offers various possibilities: from support for individuals to actors in education. improve their skills, knowledge and qualifications abroad, to support The programme Erasmus is named after for broad cooperation in VET throughout Europe intended to increase a Dutch humanist and theologian, Desiderius attractiveness, quality and performance of VET systems. Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466/1469-1536), who The sectoral programme on adult education lived in different quarters of Europe to enrich his is called Grundtvig. It is named after the Danish knowledge by preparing important Latin and Greek teacher, writer, poet, philosopher, historian, pastor publications of the New Testament. According to and politician Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig its title, this programme supports mobility and (1783 – 1872), who is ideological father of the cooperation in higher education throughout so-called folk high schools (similar to People’s Europe. Programme’s different actions do not target only students who Universities). He believed the university should wish to study or work abroad, but also teaching staff and other staff, educate its students for active participation in even from enterprises, including higher education staff seeking training society and that practical skills, including national poetry and history, abroad. Erasmus supports cooperation of higher education institutions, should form an essential part of education. This sectoral programme networking and multilateral projects. supports teaching and learning needs of those in all non-vocational forms of adult education, whether formal, non-formal or informal, as well as the institutions and organisations providing or facilitating such learning opportunities. It supports inception and assistantship training.

18 ANALYSIS

The Transversal Programme covers the inter-sectoral fields and is used by the programme to refer to participation of CSOs registered as comprised of four key activities: 1) development of innovative ICT- legal entities, as well as informal youth groups under certain actions). based contents; 2) dissemination and exploitation of results and Programme participation requirements vary from country to country. exchange of good practices; 3) languages; and 4) policy cooperation The programme promoters can apply for project grants in the capacity and innovation. of legal entities provided they are: The Jean Monnet Programme is intended to support teaching, • non-profit or non-governmental organisation; research and reflection on European integration and key EU institutions • local or regional public authority; and associations. • informal youth group; • youth body active at EU level, with branch offices in at least eight 1.4. Youth in Action (8) participating countries; • international governmental non-for-profits organisation; or The programme Youth in Action is established with the Decision of the European Parliament and the Council.12 It is intended to support • profit-making organisation that organises a youth, sports or culture mobility and informal education of young people aged 13 to 30 years. event, established as legal entity in one of the participating or Programme objectives include: partner countries. • promote active European citizenship among youth; • develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, in particular in order to foster social cohesion in the EU; • foster mutual understanding between youth from different countries; • contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capacity of youth CSOs; • promote European cooperation in the youth field. This programme’s target group are young people/youth workers, including the programme promoters. The programme has two groups of beneficiaries: participants and promoters (promoters is the term

12 Decision No. 1719/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006, establishing the Youth in Action programme for the period 2007 to 2013, Brussels: Official Journal of the European Union L 327/30, 24.11.2006

19 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

Figure 1 – Graphic overview of the programme Youth in Action

20 ANALYSIS

As shown in the diagram above, this programme is comprised of people. Youth democracy projects supports young people’s participation five actions, those being: 1) Youth for Europe; 2) European Voluntary in the democratic life of their local, regional or national community or Service; 3) Youth in the World; 4) Youth Support Systems; and 5) Support at international level. for European cooperation in the youth field. Action 2 (European Voluntary Service) supports youth’s Action 1 (Youth for Europe) supports youth exchanges, youth participation in various forms of voluntary activities, in and beyond initiatives and youth democracy projects. Youth exchange offers the EU. Under this action, young people take part in non-profit, unpaid opportunities for youth groups from different countries to meet and activities. learn about each other’s cultures. This groups plan together their youth exchange around of theme of mutual interest. Youth initiatives Action 3 (Youth in the World) supports cooperation with the support group projects designed at local, regional and national level. neighbouring countries of the EU and with other countries in the World. Moreover, they support the networking of similar projects between It encourages projects on youth exchange and training, as well as different countries in order to strengthen their European aspect and networking of youth CSOs and exchange of good practices. to enhance cooperation and exchanges of experiences between young

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LIFELONG LEARNING 2007-2013 (6.970 billion EUR)

COMENIUS ERASMUS LEONARDO DA VINCI GRUNDTVIG (370 million EUR/year) (215 million EUR/year) (38.54 million EUR/year)

Grants for pre-school and primary Grants for mobility of students and Grants for VET teaching and learning Grants for adult education and training staff education to upper secondary educa- teaching staff, networks and part- except for upper secondary VET • Mobility (2.05 million EUR/year) tion institutions; nerships between higher education • Mobility (122 million EUR/year) (grants for formal and non-formal training and • Partnerships institutions (grants for transnational placements teaching staff specializing in adult education) (grants for transnational partner- • Mobility (351.1 million EUR/year) in enterprises and training institu- • Multilateral projects (14 million EUR) ships between schools) (individual grants for students/ tions) (grants for modernisation and innovation pro- • Networks (2.843 million EUR/year) teaching staff) • Multilateral projects (82.64 million jects in adult education) (grants for networking of educational • Multilateral projects (10.842 mil- EUR) • Networks (2.557 million EUR/year) institutions and organizations in lion EUR) (grants for development of innovation (grants for Grundtvig networks in adult educa- multilateral projects) (grants for development, moderni- and good practice) tion) • Mobility (24.793 million EUR/ zation and innovation projects) • Networks (3.682 million EUR/year) • Partnerships (19.32 million EUR/year) year) • Networks (7.6 million EUR/year) (grants for trans-national thematic (grants for partnerships in adult education) (assistantships for future teachers, (grants for creation of thematic networks for EU standards) exchange of pupils) networks to improve the quality of higher education) LLL - TRANSVERSAL PROGRAMME • E-LEARNING (8.5 million EUR/year) grants for integrating ICTs in education and training systems in Europe • DISSEMINATION (2.864 million EUR/year) grants to support projects and studies on dissemination of LLL results • LANGUAGES (9.147 million EUR/year) grants to improve language teaching and learning (in terms of quality and quantity) • POLICY COOPERATION AND INNOVATION (6.239 million EUR/year) studies and analyses of education policies and systems JEAN MONNET – support for actions, European institutions and associations active in the field of EU integrations.

Figure 2 – Graphic overview of the programme Lifelong Learning (2007-2014)

Action 4 (Youth Support Systems) includes support for: a) bodies work and youth organizations (exchange of experiences, expertise and active at EU level (CSOs that pursue a goal of general European interest. good practices, as well as activities which may lead to long-lasting Their activities must contribute to young people’s participation in quality projects, partnerships and networks); c) projects encouraging public life and society, or development and implementation of European innovation and quality; d) information activities for young people cooperation activities in the field of youth in the broad sense); b) the and those active in youth work and youth organisations (improving European Youth Forum; training and networking of those active in youth youth’s access to ICTS and supporting development of European,

22 ANALYSIS national, regional and local youth portals for dissemination of specific Partner countries under the programme include: 1) Southeast information for young people); e) partnerships; f) structures of the European countries (, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, programme; and е) adding to the value of the programme. , and ); 2) Eastern Europe and the Caucasus countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine); and 3) Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Action 5 (Support for European cooperation in the youth field) Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority of the supports: а) structured dialogue between different actors, especially West Bank and Gaza Strip, Syria, Tunisia). between young people, those active in youth work and youth organizations and youth policy-makers; b) youth seminars on social, Macedonia participates in actions 1, 2 and 4 (Figure 1). cultural and political issues ; c) policy cooperation in the youth field; and d) networks for better understanding of youth. The Executive Agency (EACEA) in Brussels is responsible for 2. MACEDONIA ESTABLISHES implementation of centralized actions, while the National Agencies THE NATIONAL AGENCY are responsible for the decentralized actions. Decentralized Calls for Proposals are further divided into standing annual calls with three The legal basis for Macedonia’s participation in the programmes deadlines and specific Calls for Proposals. Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action originates in Article 7 of the 14 At EU level, the programme’s implementation is facilitated by the Decision establishing the Lifelong Learning Programme and the 15 Youth Bureau for Assistance13 that is established within the Executive corresponding Decision establishing the Youth in Action Programme. Agency, Eurodesk and SALTO resource centres. The participating countries however are required to establish a national agency responsible for administration of these programmes. Moreover, Depending on the action, participants and promoters based in various at national level, the participating countries must establish adequate countries are eligible to apply with project applications. A distinction legal, institutional and administrative conditions for programme is made between participating countries and partner countries. The management, as well as a separate structure for coordinating the programme implies different level of participation: a) participants and implementation of programme actions. promoters from participating countries can take part in all actions of the programme Youth in Action; b) 27 EU Member States, countries from For that purpose, the Republic of Macedonia took certain measures: 16, European Economic Area (EEA) Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well it adopted the Law on Establishing the National Agency and thus and candidate countries for EU membership (the Western ); c) participants and promoters from the EU Neighbourhood Countries in 14 Decision 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November the capacity of partner countries are allowed to apply with projects under 2006, establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning, Brussels: Official action 2 and sub-action 3.1 of the programme Youth in Action. Journal of the European Union L 327/45, 24.11.2006 15 Decision No. 1719/2006/EC 16 Law on Establishing the National Agency for European Education Programmes and 13 http://europa.eu/youth/index.cfm?l_id=en Mobility (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia” no. 113/2007).

23 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report created the initial, formal preconditions for the establishment of Agency. Following the alleged “recommendations”18 from Brussels, the this institution. Early 2008 marked the start of capacity building at Draft Law – believe it or not - included the following legal provisions: the National Agency by means of so-called “preparatory measures” financed under IPA. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed Article 12 with the European Commission and thus fulfilled the basic conditions 1) The Executive Board of the National Agency shall be the management for Macedonia’s participation in the programme, by ensuring quality and body. sound financial management pursuant to EU regulations.17 The most important criteria are related to functionality in the administrative 2) The President and Members of the Executive Board shall be appointed context, which guarantees that the tasks will be implemented in a and dismissed by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. satisfactory manner and without conflict of interests, as well as to 3) The Executive Board shall be comprised of president and four institutional capacity required for application of programme rules and members, i.e., one representative from the Ministry of Education and conditions established on the Community level. Science, the Ministry of Finance and Macedonian Youth Press each, Unfortunately, to present, the Republic of Macedonia is not adequately and two members representing Council of Youth NGOs. involved in the programme and still participates in the preparatory stage as a result of the two-year suspension of funds in 2010 and 2011. The Article 16 establishment of the National Agency was to improve the absorption 5) To the position Director of the National Agency can be appointed any and the administrative capacity in Macedonia. person who fulfils the following conditions: • is citizen of the Republic of Macedonia; 2.1. An ill beginning promises an ill end • has completed higher education; • is proficient in English language; and The preparatory activities for the establishment of the National • has three years working experience in administration and Agency in Macedonia started in early 2007 with the appointment of a management of the Community Programmes. commission at the Ministry of Education and Science (hereinafter: MES). On his own initiative, a recently employed officer at MES was appointed as These two articles of the Law triggered a heated debate in the the Chair of the Commission, coming from the position active president of Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia. The opposition MPs warned CSO Youth Forum Eye from Struga and member of the Executive Committee that these provisions are controversial, but the ruling majority ignored of VMRO-DPMNE’s Youth Alliance – Bosko Nelkoski. This Commission, inter them. A group of MPs from the opposition (Slavica Grkovska, Tale alia, was tasked with the drafting of the Law on Establishing the National Geramitcioski and Blagorodna Cvetkovska) proposed an amendment

17 Article 54 and Article 56 of the Euroatom Regulation No. 1605/2002, and Article 38 of the 18 http://www.sobranie.mk/WBStorage/Files/056%20sednica%2005%20prodolzenie%20 Euroatom Regulation No. 2342/2002. 07-09-2007.pdf

24 ANALYSIS to Article 12 of the Law. On several occasions throughout the plenary mistake today that might cost us the normal operation of the National hearing they demanded clarification of the background and performance Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility later...”20 of the two CSOs indicated in the Law, including how and why they were In February 2010, FOSM raised an initiative in the Constitutional selected as the most representative organizations. Court concerning the composition of the National Agency’s Executive The explanation provided by the MES representative, inter alia, Board. This initiative however was rejected by the Court once the law included: “…according to the guidelines provided by Brussels, the was amended and the specific organizations mentioned in the law’s first organizations represented in the Executive Board would not be allowed to version were deleted from the legal text.21 apply for project funding under the programmes. Selection of these CSOs was made based on broad consultations with all youth organizations... These organizations were selected by a broad consensus, because they 2.2. Cobweb or Octopus? had the highest number of members, etc. Again, I stress that discussions were held with all non-governmental organizations...”19 Obviously, the Be that as it may, the Law was adopted as proposed and included only one MES representative was not right, because later the said two CSOs were amendment for equitable representation of communities in the Executive the first grant beneficiaries. Based on the interviews conducted with a Board. Hence, on 13 November 2007, in compliance with the Law and on number of active youth organizations, a conclusion was reached that proposal from Macedonian Youth Press, Council of Youth NGOs, MES and they were neither consulted, nor invited to a public debate, and they Ministry of Finance, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia adopted 22 have never heard about the said organizations, let alone be able to the Decision on appointing the Executive Board of the National Agency confirm that these CSOs had the highest number of members. for a four-year term of office, with the following composition: MP Tale Geramitcioski was ardent in raising the question: “...What kind 1. President – Violeta Naumovska (nominated by Council of Youth NGOs) of a state denies the competent state institution to enjoy majority votes in 2. Member – Vesna Stojcevska (nominated by Ministry of Finance) the Executive Board? Are you aware what you are doing? From the total of 3. Member – Igor Domazetovski (nominated by Macedonian Youth Press) five members, you propose three of them to be nominated by youth councils 4. Member – Makedonka Dicoska (nominated by Council of Youth NGOs), and that I have never heard of before. I might not be well informed and I admit 5. Member – Isamedin Azizi (nominated by Ministry of Education and that, but you should know better. For the last four-five years I have not Science). heard about the existence of Council of Youth NGOs, or this council is yet to To better understand the relations between members of the Executive be established? This organization is entrusted with the appointment of the Board, one must first analyse the CSOs indicated in the Law. First, Council Executive Board’s President. The Government must reconsider the mistake of Youth NGOs is comprised of several organizations, those being: 1) it is making...” In the same context, he alarmed: “… I’m just trying to convince you to reconsider this matter, because we can make a serious 20 Ibid. 21 http://www.ustavensud.mk/domino/WEBSUD.nsf/ffc0feee91d7bd9ac1256d280038c474/ 19 http://www.sobranie.mk/WBStorage/Files/056%20sednica%2005%20prodolzenie%20 821a0c39fc440811c12578630033ef6c?OpenDocument 07-09-2007.pdf 22 http://www.slvesnik.com.mk/Issues/2046D5725087BC4895B26DF41F6DC5A9.pdf

25 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

Youth Forum Eye;23 2) Volunteers Centre Skopje;24 3) Macedonian Model of In the period April 2007 – April 2008, Katerina Stankoska was United Nations;25 4) Youth Development Fund;26 5) Youth Council of Gazi the founder and authorized person of this organization, although Baba;27 6) Youth Council of Kisela Voda;28 and 7) other CSOs. in February 2008 she was appointed head of sector at the National Agency. Under her leadership, in November 2007, Council of Youth NGOs nominated two from the total of five members in the National Agency’s Executive Board, those being: (1) Violeta Naumovska (her sister); 23 Bosko Nelkoski, the future Director of the National Agency, is founder of this and (2) Makedonka Dicoska. From April 2008, Dejan Naumovski is the organization, and Jovan Poposki, the future employee of the National Agency, was the organization’s director. Neda Ahcieva, also employed at the National Agency, was authorized person of Council of Youth NGOs, and he is husband of Violeta a project coordinator at this organization. Igor Domazetovski is project coordinator Naumovska who was appointed President of the Executive Board. This and member of the National Agency’s Executive Board, however nominated by another organization is registered on the same (home) address of Katerina and CSO (Macedonian Youth Press), while Lulesa Iljazi is an associate of the organization Nikola Stankoski, and is identical with the official address of Volunteers and future employee of the National Agency. In September 2009, Youth Forum Eye was awarded grant in the amount of 5,400 EUR, and is beneficiary of project grants awarded Centre Skopje – Str. Sava Kovacevik 47-4/6, Kisela Voda, Skopje. In by Brussels (11 projects in total value of 235,211.50 EUR until 2011). November 2007, Macedonian Youth Press nominated one member of the 24 Nikola Stankoski is the organization’s founder and director, but also brother of Katerina Executive Board, Igor Domazetovski, who is also the founder of this CSO Stankoska, who is the founder and authorized person of Council of Youth NGOs. Later, with a seat on Str. Plitista 4 in Struga.29 Domazetovski is a long-term Katerina Stankoska became head of sector on financial and legal matters at the associate of Bosko Nelkoski. In November 2010, this CSO changed its National Agency. Nikola Stankoski is brother of Violeta Naumovska who is the President of the National Agency’s Executive Board. Makedonka Dicoska is also member of this title to Youth Press. organization and member of the National Agency’s Executive Board. Lulesa Iljazi is an Immediately after being appointed, members of the Executive Board associate of this CSO, but at the same time she was appointed head of sector at the announced an Open Call for appointment of Director of the National National Agency. Gjoko Vukanovski is trainer for this CSO. Aleksandar Bogojevski is also CSO’s associate and employee at the National Agency, and is close relative of Gjoko Agency. Only one candidate applied to this call and was appointed in Vukanovski. This CSO benefited from project grants awarded by the National Agency and December 2007: Bosko Nelkoski. by Brussels (19 projects in total value of 385,628 EUR until 2011). In comparison, the Executive Board of the Croatian National 25 Neda Ahcieva is the founder and associate of this CSO, although she works as head of sector at the National Agency (2008-2011). Agency, to which Nelkoski liked to be compared, has seven members, 30 26 This organization is the national contact-point for the programme Youth in Action, as follows :1) President – representative from the Ministry of Science, appointed by the National Agency in 2009. It also benefited from grant funds (9,883 Education and Sports; 2) Member – representative from the Ministry of EUR) awarded by the National Agency in September 2009, and has been approved project Science, Education and Sports; 3) Member – representative from the grants by Brussels (5 projects in total value of 101,611 EUR). For more information, see: Ministry of Family, Defenders and Generational Solidarity; 4) Member – http://www.sega.org.mk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=153:- youth-in-action&catid=44:---2009&Itemid=81&lang=mk representative from the Ministry of Finance; 5) Member – representative 27 CSO close to the Director Bosko Nelkoski, which cooperates with Youth Forum Eye and Volunteers Centre Skopje. 29 This is the address of a property owned by the family of Jovan Poposki who is employed in 28 CSO close to the Director Bosko Nelkoski, which cooperates with Youth Forum Eye and the National Agency. Volunteers Centre Skopje. 30 http://www.mobilnost.hr/index.php?id=15

26 ANALYSIS from the employees in the Agency; 6) Member – representative from the academic community; and 7) Member – representative from the Vocational Education and Training Agency.

2.3. How to make a dream-team The next logical step was the administrative capacity building at the institution for effective and efficient management of the programmes. Hence, the Director of the National Agency started to recruit and build his team of associates. According to the legal regulations in effect at that time, employees of the National Agency were not recruited pursuant to the procedure and rules stipulated in the Law on Civil Servants. Thus, Director Nelkoski was allowed to take discretionary decisions about the most competent candidates for the relevant job positions at the National Agency. In order to untangle the personal relations among members of Bosko Nelkoski’s dream-team, one must first know the CSOs that are part of this team and that were given the privilege to decide about the projects that should bring benefits for thousands of young people in Macedonia. First, Council of Youth NGOs was established in April 2007, which means it was in the process of establishment at the time when the procedure on adopting the Law on Establishing the National Agency was initiated. Hence the question on how and why this CSO was included in the law’s text and who did that? Also, it is unclear how other youth organizations were consulted, especially knowing that, allegedly, a consensus was reached to include this organization in the law, as claimed by the MES representative, when it did not exist at the time when the Law was discussed in the Parliament?

27 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

Figure 3 provides a diagram showing these complex relations

Figure 3 provides a diagram showing these complex relations.

What does this diagram show? The delicately intricate relations of the National Agency’s Executive Board, on 9 September 2008, between the two CSOs indicated in the Law and the National Agency Makedonka Dicoska established the company Libriago, seated on Str. raise serious concerns. Unclear is how the competent authorities failed Emil Zola 3-2/3 in Skopje, which is also registered as the official address to recognize these ties and did not check the basic facts when they were of Volunteers Centre Skopje.31 Several months earlier, the husband of the establishing this very important institution. Executive Board’s President established the company Darma Divali. However, to avoid any misunderstanding, some of above-named people are very “creative”. For example, after being appointed member 31 http://www.vcs.org.mk/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=59& lang=mk

28 ANALYSIS

2.4. Team, expanded and upgraded Law on Establishing the National Agency is characterized by several other weaknesses. First, purposefully or not, the Law did not stipulate an obligation Due attention should be paid to the second (non)governmental whereby employees in the National Agency would be recruited pursuant to organization indicated in the Law on Establishing the National Agency the rules governing the employment of civil servants. In practice, this means – Macedonian Youth Press. This organization was established in in May that Bosko Nelkoski and the Executive Board were given discretionary rights 2007, with a seat in Struga,32 which means it was established after the not to involve any other authority in the recruitment process. procedure on adopting the Law on Establishing the National Agency was Intensive capacity building of the National Agency started in early initiated. Macedonian Youth Press nominated one from the total of five 2008. The principle of “expertise and competence” seemed to be merely members of the National Agency’s Executive Board. Igor Domazetovski, declarative. Heads of sectors and departments at the National Agency nominated as Member of the Executive Board – accidentally or not – were employed in an arbitrary manner, and some of them do not hold is an activist of Youth Forum Eye, an organization founded by Bosko relevant working experience required for the position in question. Most Nelkoski, Director of the National Agency. conspicuous is the employment of Jovan Poposki, who was the director A comprehensive understanding of this network of relations of Youth Forum Eye from Struga in the period March 2008 – March 2009.34 necessitates knowledge on other founders of this CSO which, the In that period, i.e., in October 2008, Jovan Poposki was employed in the Government and the parliamentary majority, by law, entrusted with the National Agency to the position head of sector on general education obligation to nominate one member of the National Agency’s Executive – a position that requires at least three years of working experience. Board. The following individuals and CSO founders are important for Although he recently completed his undergraduate studies, today Jovan this analysis: Poposki is the national coordinator for the programme Lifelong Learning. 1. Igor Domazetovski – member of the National Agency’s Executive Board; Another example of incompetent recruitment is Neda Ahcieva. She is the 2. Angelko Markoski – founder and first authorized person of another founder of Macedonian Model for United Nations, but IS also an associate35 of organization – Centre for Ruran Development in Southeast Europe Youth Forum Eye from Struga. In October 2008, Neda Ahcieva was employed from village Jablanica, Struga, where he works together with Trajce at the National Agency as the head of sector on tertiary education. Nelkoski, father of Bosko Nelkoski, Director of the National Agency. Notwithstanding her “relations”, the question is raised on the logic for Note: organization’s name is Centre for Ruran Development and is not employing a recent graduate, in her early twenties, to the position national misspelled. coordinator for the programme Erasmus that is the most prestigious EU 3. Ruzdie Ismajloska –Nola Ismajloska’s mother,33 who appears in as many Programme for student mobility? Several months earlier, in January 2007, as EIGHT organizations that benefited from grants disbursed under the she promoted CSO Youth Forum Eye at the Government of the Republic of 36 programme Youth in Action, approved by Brussels and by Skopje. Macedonia, together with Bosko Nelkoski and Jovan Poposki.

34 Entry of changes to records kept by the Central Register of the Republic of Macedonia, 32 Records kept by the Central Register, see Annex 2. Youth Forum Eye, see Annex 2. 33 http://www.salto-youth.net/downloads/toy_trainer_download-file-1389/Europass-Nola_ 35 www.salto-youth.net/downloads/4-17-807/ Ismajloska.pdf 36 http://www.idividi.com.mk/vesti/svet/371595/index.htm 29 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

2.5. (Para)Youth Organizations From Macedonia’s independence to present, active and visible youth Figure 4 – Photograph of Jovan Poposki, organizations are the ones that truly advocate for and work in the best Bosko Nelkoski and Neda Ahcieva taken at the promotion event in interests of youth. Although several political entities made efforts to the Government lead effective youth policies, the political party interests and the desire for power have prevented them to make youth issues a top priority in the state. Evidence in support of this statement is seen in the manner in which the National Youth Strategy is (not) implemented, the fact In 2008, Lulesa Iljazi was employed at the National Agency to the that 60% of active youth are unemployed, and the high share of young position head of sector on vocational education and training (national people who are willing to emigrate from the country in pursuit of better coordinator for the programme Leonardo Da Vinci), coming from future. Youth problems and true priorities were given due consideration Volunteers Centre Skopje. by youth organizations that implemented real actions and indicated the In 2008, Lidija Aleksoska was employed as the archive officer at the key problems, as well as solutions. These are the organizations that were National Agency, and she is goddaughter to Bosko Nelkoski. Later, other first to transfer international experiences in Macedonia and first to raise activists from Nelkoski’s CSO (Youth Forum Eye) and few members of their voice on the need for better youth organization in Macedonia. Nikola Stankoski’s CSO (Volunteers Centre Skopje) were also employed Unfortunately, other (para)youth organizations emerged and later in the National Agency. New employees also included members of the occupied and destroyed most of EU opportunities for young people. ruling political party who were instructed not to raise questions and Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action could have been a perfect “mind their own business” and in return they will be rewarded with opportunity for young people to promote their knowledge and capacity, generous salaries. This group includes several relatives of “renowned increase their social engagement and improve their status in the people”, such as the sister of an Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, society. The manner in which the National Agency was established and Daniela Velovska,37 who continuously reported to the Prime Minister, the manner in which it operates has inflicted permanent scars on the through her brother, on the excellent work performed by the National youth sector in the state. Agency. Some employees were quick to identify possibilities for “private businesses” with the Director. Namely, two heads of sectors at the The intricate cobweb created by (para)youth, (para)activist and National Agency, Goce Velickovski and Dejan Zlatkovski, established the non-transparent National Agency resulted in selective information company Agronomija Organika, seated in village Draslajca (birthplace dissemination to youth CSOs on the opportunities offered by EU of Bosko Nelkoski’s father). Interesting is to note that one company programmes and has led to purposeful establishment of new, fictitious founder comes from Delcevo, while the other is from Skopje, but the and (para)youth organizations that would qualify to benefit from EU company was registered in village Draslajca?!? funds. Particularly worrying is the fact that there are no data on activities implemented by these organizations with or for the benefit of young 37 See weekly Fokus, issue from 11 June 2010.

30 ANALYSIS people, i.e., they are not visible in the media; do not participate in any youth cobweb continued to cause damages. The greatest damages are civil initiative; are not members of already profiled networks of youth inflicted on the young people, because – instead of investing millions CSOs, nor have they established cooperation with them. These (para) of EUR in youth capacity building, so they would no longer be accused youth CSOs did not endorse the initiative for the National Youth Council. of being unprofessional and incompetent – the funds ended up for They were invisible when the youth reacted against the disputable Draft capacity building at these suspicious (para)youth organizations. Law on Youth; did not raise their voice to ease interethnic tensions in the country; did not express an opinion about the murder of Martin Neskovski who was victim of police brutality; they are not partners in 3. THE NATIONAL AGENCY AT ITS BEST the Republic of Youth Initiative, and are not recognized as members of bigger networks of youth CSOs such as the Union of Scout Organizations Given that the National Agency was in the preparatory stage, its or Youth Clubs at the Red Cross of Republic of Macedonia. activities were financed under IPA and the EC formally approved a Some CSOs close to the National Agency appear only as members of restricted framework for participation in Calls for Proposals for several the CSO coalition NOW, a network of CSOs whose actions were subject of programme actions.38 In that stage, the National Agency should have reconsideration and criticism among young people, especially after this developed and promoted its institutional capacity to manage the coalition decided to support the disputable Draft Law on Youth, and the programmes Youth in Action and Lifelong Learning. Once the preparatory decision not to endorse the founding act for the National Youth Council, stage is completed, the National Agency should demonstrate adequate as the highest representative body of youth. capacity for efficient and successful implementation of the programmes. Although the group of organizations that benefited from project That was the precondition for the National Agency to be accredited grants awarded by the National Agency includes several CSOs that have for operative management and administration of the programmes, demonstrated capacity on numerous occasions and operate with true in that complying with EU regulation on quality and sound financial 39 members in the field, most grant beneficiaries that “implemented” management. hundred thousand EUR are part of Bosko Nelkoski’s cobweb. The main indicators against which the EU assesses the National Damages caused by this behaviour are multifold, both for youth CSOs Agency’s effectiveness and success are the pilot-projects, with and for youth in the Republic of Macedonia in general. These (para) special focus on the National Agency’s performance pursuant to the organizations tarnished the image enjoyed by the youth sector, notably administrative criteria established. Based on the implementation of because of the attempts to level themselves with CSOs that are actually pilot-projects, the EC assesses whether the National Agency performs its active and are present among the youth on daily basis. Enormous tasks and duties to a satisfactory level and without conflict of interests, amounts of EU funds were abused and instead of being spent to promote youth interests, disappeared into thin air. 38 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2009:035:0018:0019:EN:PDF, No lessons were learned from the suspension of funds in 2010 and http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2011:373:0013:0015:EN:PDF 39 Article 54 and Article 56 of the Euroatom Regulation No. 1605/2002, as well as Article 38 2011, and thus, as soon as the programmes were reactivated, this (para) of the Euroatom Regulation No. 2342/2002.

31 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report but also examines its institutional capacity to apply the programme members of Council of Youth NGOs,40 i.e., Youth Forum Eye from Struga, Youth rules and conditions established at EU level. Development Fund from Ohrid (national contact-point for the programme After the National Agency was equipped with human resources in Youth in Action appointed by the National Agency), Youth Creative Centre 2008, it was tasked to select the first group of projects to be funded from Veles (association founded by the brother of Bosko Nelkoski’s wife, under the programmes Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action. This process Nikola Kocevski from Veles), and Centre for Ruran Development in Southeast was implemented in 2009. Given the fact that Lifelong Learning appears Europe from village Jablanica (where Trajce Nelkoski, father of Bosko to be a more complicated programme, Bosko Nelkoski’s dream-team Nelkoski, is one of the five founders of this association). found that Youth in Action is more suitable for pursuing personal gains. Funds were also awarded to an organization associated to Neda In the same period, another group of youth organizations were Ahcieva, head of sector at the National Agency (Erasmus Student established, including those founded by the parents of Bosko Nelkoski’s Network from Skopje), i.e., she is member of this CSO’s Supervisory wife, his father Trajce Nelkoski, his godson and many others. Using all Board. Two projects had identical partner organizations: the project resources and information, these youth organizations, including CSOs proposed by Centre for Ruran Development in Southeast Europe from entrusted with the National Agency’s management (Macedonian Youth village Jablanica and the project proposed by Youth Creative Centre Press and Council of Youth NGOs) submitted project applications to from Veles. The partner organizations were Association for Civil Society centralized Calls for Proposals for Youth in Action announced in Brussels, in Slovenia LOM (organization that employs Misko Astalkoski, former 41 with the single goal of demonstrating credibility, convinced that nobody project coordinator of Youth Forum Eye), and Ensemble “Goce Delcev” would contest the success of their bids because of Brussels’s involvement. from Bulgaria (folklore group that cooperates with Youth Forum Eye). This tactics proved to be very successful. In that, on one side, the network of youth CSOs demonstrated greater participation in Youth in 3.1. Crime or unethical performance? Action, while on the other side, the country’s absorption capacity – or at least the capacity of organizations deemed politically adequate – In early 2010, the media covered and reported on the performance was increased. At the same time, the national administrative capacity of the National Agency. From today’s perspective, at that time the was developed, as the network of organizations generated successful media informed only about a small portion of conspicuous activities. projects, while the National Agency demonstrated successful Regretfully, the conflict of interests present at the National Agency management of EU funds. at that time was of greater scope and more systematic than the image However, eggs and promises are easily broken. The Agency’s dream-team created by the media. was inpatient and had to “benefit” from funds disbursed under the first Call for Proposals in 2009 intended for implementation of pilot-projects. 40 http://www.na.org.mk/tl_files/docs/yia/YiA2009/YiA_rez_%20grants_2009.pdf Hence, these funds ended up with CSOs that are directly related to the 41 This fact is obvious from the lists of project grants approved for Youth Forum Eye from management structures at the National Agency. Funds for the pilot-projects Struga, see Annex. These documents show that Misko Astalkoski is the contract-person for four projects in total value of little less than 100,000 EUR on behalf of Youth Forum Eye under the programme Youth in Action were awarded to organizations- from Struga.

32 ANALYSIS

The unpleasant reality at the National Agency was first disclosed At last, under great public pressure, on 23 February 2010 Nelkoski by the daily newspaper Nova Makedonija,42 as a follow up to findings submitted a letter of resignation,46 and accused that he was being presented in the Third Quarterly Accession Watch Report titled “MK@ publicly persecuted with lies and insinuations. He did not provide a EU Lisbon - Skopje - Athens”,43 published in October 2009 immediately specific explanation as to how these CSOs, whose founders are related to after the first group of project grants was awarded. In the second half him, were awarded funds by the National Agency, while the Government of January and early February 2010, almost all media outlets (printed showed no interest to resolve this matter. In his letter of resignation, and broadcasting) reported on the National Agency’s abuse of funds. Nelkoski praised himself for the success of the National Agency and Even Prime Minister Gruevski issued a public statement and said: “We acknowledged the efforts of the team that – as he reiterated – was his recommended the Executive Board to immediately investigate this case greatest creation and pride. and check the actual facts. If it establishes unlawful or unethical actions, Although the Prime Minister said that: “if it [Executive Board] it should dismiss the Agency Director. On the contrary, if it establishes establishes that unlawful actions have been taken, a criminal procedure that the implicated employees have acted in lawful and ethical manner, will be initiated…” it seems that the docket on Bosko Nelkoski is safely it should explain that in public. If unlawful actions have been taken, a stored in the folder “promised, but unrealized” projects. Namely, the State criminal procedure will be initiated and the competent courts will make Commission for Prevention of Corruption (hereinafter: SCPC), acting the final decision on that matter. If unethical actions have been taken, on own initiative, presented the Public Prosecutor of the Republic of 44 then there will be dismissals”. Macedonia with a motion for criminal prosecution of Bosko Nelkoski, the Bosko Nelkoski was not dismissed from the position Director of the former Director of the National Agency, indicating “reasonable suspicion National Agency. In the next editions of Accession Watch Reports, MCET that in the period 2008 – 2009, he committed the criminal act ‘abuse and FOSM urged the rule of law to be implemented and sanctions to of office and public authorization’ stipulated in Article 353, paragraph be imposed for Director Nelkoski, but they were to no avail.45 Although 1 and paragraph 5 and ‘unprofessional performance of duties’ stipulated several media informed that the National Agency’s Director who abused in Article 353-c of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Macedonia, his office was dismissed, in reality, he remained in office. because while managing the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility and administering funds and performing public procurements, he acted contrary to his public authorization and did not ensure a fair and lawful use of funds disposed by the National Agency, in that violating the regulations on conflict of interests and taking 42 http://novamakedonija.com.mk/NewsDetal.asp?vest=11310101962&id=9&setIzdan unprofessional actions in performing his authorizations and duties for ie=21883 personal proceeds and for the benefit of others”.47 According to SCPC’s 43 http://soros.org.mk/dokumenti/Tret-izvestaj-MK-so-CIP.pdf, pg.60. 44 http://www.vest.com.mk/?ItemID=6A2BB09DD00D484385E9B77315699446 46 45 Fifth Quarterly Accession Watch Report titled “Who Needs a Parliament?” April 2010, page Bosko Nelkoski’s letter of resignation is available at: http://na.org.mk/tl_files/docs/ 72. Available at MCET’s website: http://mcet.org.mk/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/petti- ostavka.pdf izvestaj-MK-za-web.pdf 47 2011 Annual Report of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, page 13. Available

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Annual Report, this case was presented to the Public Prosecution; therefrom in the speech delivered at the Parliament.49 Later, the so- however, what happened afterwards remains a mystery to this day. called lies and misinformation proved to be true. The EC suspended the Before Bosko Nelkoski resigned from the office, the Government of funds for a period of two years (2010 and 2011), while Nelkoski’s dream- the Republic of Macedonia - by a decision - expressly dismissed the team kept their positions in the National Agency to present. In the end, members of the National Agency’s Executive Board. On 26 January the threat for filing lawsuits proved to be the only correct information 2010, the Executive Board’s old composition was dismissed and a new from the open letter issued by the employees of the National Agency. composition was appointed. This shows that the problems caused by After Bosko Nelkoski resigned from office, on 5 March 2010 the Article 12 of the Law on Establishing the National Agency were taken Executive Board appointed Ratko Karpusevski as the acting director of seriously as late as 2010. Be that as it may, in order to comply with the National Agency coming from the position advisor in the Agency for the law in effect, two members of the new Executive Board were again Youth and Sports. His appointment was contrary to Article 18, paragraph nominated by Council of Youth NGOs and one member was nominated by 2 of the Law on Establishing the National Agency, which stipulates that Macedonian Youth Press. the acting director should be appointed from the line of employees. On the day when Nelkoski resigned, heads of sectors at the National In early April 2010, MPs from the ruling majority and the opposition Agency issued a public announcement. In the open letter, the team that entered a heated debate in the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia, Nelkoski was so proud of stated: “Lawsuits will be filed against those focused on the abuse of EU funds.50 All efforts were to no avail as the who - in future - will unreasonably attack the image, integrity, credibility ruling majority rejected the opposition’s proposal to amend the Law on and personality of the employees in the National Agency, thereby directly Establishing the National Agency for European Educational Programmes affecting their careers… We would like to inform the public that funds and Mobility. for the programmes are not suspended, and there are no announcements On 7 April 2010, Ljubinka Slaveska, daughter of the former Minister that such thing would happen. All statements made to the contrary are of Finance Trajko Slaveski and fiancée of Jovan Andonovski, State nothing but lies and misinformation… We would like to inform the public Secretary at the Secretariat for European Affairs,51 was appointed new that in the last 3 weeks the Ministry of Education and Science, which is the Director of the National Agency. On 28 April 2010, the National Agency national authority of the Agency, audited all financial operations of the published information on the official website that on EC’s request, the National Agency from 2008 to present. Once the audit report is prepared, programmes Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action are suspended. the National Agency will announce the audit findings and will make them Not only did employees in the National Agency keep their jobs after available for public insight”.48 the affair was publicly disclosed, but none of them was held accountable The said audit report was not published. It was made available only to MP Cvetko Grozdanov in May 2010, when he referred to findings 49 http://sobranie.mk/ext/exporteddocumentdownloadwindow.aspx?Id=18fd9533-cf3d- 404b-a4fd-2032b3a8e167&t=pdf at: http://www.dksk.org.mk/images/stories/pdf/godisni%20izvestai/god_izvestaj_2011. 50 Ibid. pdf 51 In 2011, Ljubinka Slaveska left the position Director of the National Agency and was 48 http://na.org.mk/tl_files/docs/yia/OtvorenoPismoDoJavnosta.pdf replaced by Darko Dimitrov coming from the line of Agency employees.

34 ANALYSIS for abuse and malpractices. In time, this topic slowly sank into oblivion. An impression was created in public that abuse of funds concerned only Several months earlier, in August 2009, Nikola Todorov was one or two projects, but the truth is that at least 5 of the total of 7 appointed member of the Board of Directors at the JSC Tobacco projects awarded by the National Agency included CSOs directly related Company in Prilep, only one month after he was appointed Minister to members of the Executive Board, the Agency Director and certain of Education, which is typical example of conflict of interests. With heads of sectors. the same decision, purposefully or not, Slavko Koteskl, uncle of Bosko Nelkoski and VMRO-DPMNE’s candidate for Mayor of Struga in the 2009 local elections, was appointed to the same position. 3.2. Auditing wind at the back

Additional support for the employees at the National Agency came Nikolaki Miov, as chartered auditor from the audit company Effect Plus 52 from the audit report , written in English language and drafted by a from Skopje, was mentioned in an article published in the newspaper local, albeit chartered audit company contracted by the Minister of Kapital. Namely, for years in a row, MRTV (Public Broadcasting Service) Education at that time, Nikola Todorov, in Spring 2010. The report was presented the Parliament with erroneous financial reports and plans. prepared by the national auditor Nikolaki Miov from the Skopje-based Together with MRTV’s former management, the independent auditors company Effect Plus. from Effect Plus, who throughout the years provided positive opinions on financial operations of the Public Broadcasting Service, were called to account for their actions. Particularly worrying were the conflicting assessments made by two audit companies that had been contracted to “comb through” MRTV’s financial operations in 2010 and 2011.53 Two questions are raised. First, has the Minister Nikola Todorov, wishing to protect his political party friends, contracted an already proved “service-oriented” audit house? Second, is the system underperforming, knowing that Effect Plus is known for drafting “tailored reports”? The audit report drafted by this national audit company was kept secret from the public. Some journalists asked for the report to be published in public. First among them was Ivana Kostovska, journalist at the daily newspaper Nova Makedonija, who later transferred to Dnevnik, against whom three criminal charges were filed due to journalistic reports

53 http://www.kapital.mk/MK/dneven_vesnik/83319/ako_karanakov_i_gashtov_knizhele_ 52 The audit report prepared by Effect Plus is given in Annex 3. pogreshno,_zoshto_chashule_odobruval_.aspx?iId=2710

35 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report on this case. The first criminal charge was filed by Bosko Nelkoski, then • Youth Creative Centre from Veles – project grant in the amount of by Bosko Nelkoski’s uncle, Slavko Koteski, and the third criminal charge 8,693 EUR. As a reminder, this association is founded by the brother was filed by Nikola Stankoski from Volunteers Centre Skopje (brother of of Bosko Nelkoski’s wife, Nikola Kocevski from Veles. The audit report Katerina Stankoska, who is head of sector at the National Agency, and of established a minor technical irregularity in regard to this project. Violeta Naumovska, who was the first President of the National Agency’s • Youth Forum Eye from Struga, founded by Bosko Nelkoski – project Executive Board). Interesting is the fact that Nikola Stankoski’s attorney grant in the amount of 5,400 EUR. By May 2009, this organization in the lawsuit against journalist Kostovska is Ljube Simjanovski, is also was managed by Jovan Poposki, head of sector at the National the legal proxy of the National Agency in other lawsuits. Agency. This fact was not disclosed and in the auditor’s opinion it is It should be noted that findings from the audit report are based on not disputable. interviews conducted with the employees. One of the key witnesses • Centre for Ruran Development in SEE from village Jablanica, Struga – from the line of employees is Katerina Stankoska, who was the founder project grant in the amount of 6,180 EUR. Bosko Nelkoski’s father, and authorized person of Council of Youth NGOs. At the same time, Trajce Nelkoski, is one of the five founders of this organization, she was tasked to manage budgetary issues at the National Agency. together with Vasko Nelkoski, also from village Draslajca, Struga. In practice, her work and performance was supervised by her sister, This fact was not disclosed. the dismissed President of the National Agency’s Executive Board. • Youth Development Fund from Ohrid – project grant in the amount 54 Katerina Stankoska was the person who “objectively” informed the of 9,883 EUR. This CSO is a member of Council of Youth NGOs, which auditor about the possible conflict of interests and malpractices at the - pursuant to the Law on Establishing the National Agency in effect National Agency. at that time – was entitled to nominate two of the five members of The fact that this audit report has found only one insignificant technical the Executive Board. This fact was also not disclosed. error under one project should sound the alarm. Such interpretation leads • Erasmus Student Network from Skopje – project grant in the amount to the conclusion that the Executive Board and the Director were dismissed of 9,586 EUR. Neda Ahcieva, head of sector at the National Agency, on the basis of this allegedly insignificant error and thus exculpates the was member of this organization’s Supervisory Board. Ahcieva employees at the National Agency from any responsibility. Although it was also tasked to evaluate project applications submitted on the is not his concern, the national auditor accused the journalists and the national Call for Proposals for the programme Youth in Action. This media of exaggerating negative implications when reporting on this case. fact was not disclosed. This thesis is identical with the statement made by Bosko Nelkoski in his letter of resignation from the position Director of the National Agency The audit report drafted by Nikolaki Miov from Effect Plus established from February 2010. The truth is that the Director of the National Agency insignificant technical weaknesses, did not disclose abuse of projects, but at that time and his team awarded the funds available to seven projects, also “decorated” the factual situation at the National Agency. In that form, five of which are disputable: this report was used by the Macedonian authorities when communicating with their collocutors from Brussels and advocating for the thesis that 54 http://www.slvesnik.com.mk/Issues/ABCBBB808C582943B4A3287BD0629357.pdf the National Agency made one insignificant oversight under one project,

36 ANALYSIS which led to the dismissal of the Executive Board and the Director, whereas all other aspects of the National Agency’s work subject to audit were in compliance with the laws and the regulations in effect. The text box below provides an excerpt from Nikolaki Miov’s audit report (Section 4.3. Assessment Process and Methodology) and is the most disputable section.

4.3. Assessment Process and Methodology

We have obtainted sufficient understanding of the applicable contractual framework and applicable laws and regulations together with sufficient appropriate evidence to be able to draw reasonable conclusions on which we base the assessment. We performed interviews with key and other personnel of the NA; - Head of Department of Youth in Action Programme activities; - Head of Department for Legal, financial and horizontal affairs; - Head of the units for implementation of specific sub-programmes, accounting, general and common duties; - Other personel;

This section explains the audit methodology based on interviews with the employees at the National Agency, as follows: 1) Snezana Manceva, Head of Sector for Youth in Action Programme; 2) Katerina Stankoska, Head of Sector for Legal, Financial and Horizontal Matters; 3) Heads of Sectors on Implementation of Specific Sub-Programmes, Accounting, General and Joint Matters; and 4) other personnel, which in reality are most of the employees recruited by Bosko Nelkoski, the first Director of the National Agency, and employees appointed by the first composition of the Executive Board. Selection of interviewees was a perfect match for the audit report’s concept and was conductive to covering up the affair.

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The diagram shown on Figure 5 below presents the personal relations of Bosko Nelkoski, Director of the National Agency.

Figure 5 - Relations of Bosko Nelkoski

38 ANALYSIS

3.3. Contradicting findings entities: Youth Forum Eye from Struga, Citizens Association Youth Creative Centre from Veles and Centre for Ruran Development from Struga, which As part of their respective reports on the work of the National Agency, were approved project grants in the amount of 5,000 to 8,500 EUR”.56 the State Audit Office (SAO) and the State Commission for Prevention of In 2011, SCPC presented the Public Prosecutor with a motion to file Corruption (SCPC) included findings that are completely different from criminal charges against the former Director of the National Agency, those presented by the audit company Effect Plus. The executive summary Bosko Nelkoski, on the grounds of reasonable suspicion that in the of SAO’s 2011 Final Report on Financial Operations of the National Agency period 2008-2009 he committed the criminal acts “abuse of office and reads: “...Based on the audit results, a negative opinion is expressed about public authorization” stipulated under Article 353, paragraphs 1 and 5, the reality and objectivity of the financial report for the year that is subject and “unethical performance of duties” stipulated under Article 353-c of to audit, as well as about compliance of activities, financial transactions 57 55 the Criminal Code. Unfortunately, these crimes were protected, leaving and information with the relevant legislation in effect”. the public to wonder who protects crime. On the press conference held on 18 January 2011, SCPC presented data on its on-going activities and raised an initiative pursuant to the Law on Prevention of Corruption. In its press release, SCPC indicated 3.4. EU suspension of funds in 2010 and 2011 that it has filed 4 criminal prosecution initiatives, including one against Bosko Nelkoski. SCPC established reasonably grounded suspicion that In April 2010, the EC suspended EU assistance intended for the in the period 2008-2009 Bosko Nelkoski committed the criminal acts National Agency. EC’s 2010 Progress Report for the Republic of Macedonia “abuse of office and public authorization” and “unethical performance noted: “The Executive Board of the National Agency was dismissed and of duties”. Furthermore, SCPC indicated: “...non-compliance with the the National Agency’s Director resigned following allegations on conflict Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interests was observed in the selection of interests. An audit by the Ministry of Education and an external audit of beneficiaries of the programmes implemented by the National Agency, detected irregularities in the management of funds. A new Executive Board notably because in these procedures, financed by EU and based on co- and a new Director were appointed. The Ministry of Education and Science financing contracts, the President and the Members of the National has not yet set up an effective control system assuring the proper functioning Agency’s Executive Board discretionally selected legal entities and natural of the National Agency and ensuring that the management of EU funds persons close to them to benefit from funds disbursed under these complies with all applicable rules and high standards of ethics and integrity. programmes. It is a matter of associations where in the past, the Director, As a result, the Commission has suspended the preparatory measures for the the President and the Members of the National Agency’s Executive Board, Lifelong Learning Programme and the Youth in Action Programme“.58 as well as heads of sectors at the National Agency, were members or authorized persons. In particular, this was noted in regard to the legal 56 http://www.dksk.org.mk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=223&Itemid=1 57 2011 Annual Report of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, page 13. Available at: http://www.dksk.org.mk/images/stories/pdf/godisni%20izvestai/god_izvestaj_2011.pdf 55 http://www.dzr.gov.mk/Uploads/KOMPLET_2010_Nac_agencija_evro_obrazovni_ 58 http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2010/package/mk_rapport_2010_ programi.pdf en.pdf

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EC’s suspension remained in effect for the next year as well. 2011 Conspicuous are also the business relations of certain employees Progress Report for the Republic of Macedonia documented this fact at the National Agency. MP Jani Makraduli, in his column “Groundhog and noted: “...The Parliament enacted the amendments to the Law on Day” indicated that some companies have signed public procurement Establishing the National Agency for European Educational Programmes contracts with the National Agency.60 To present, 3 privately-owned and Mobility, thus increasing the accountability of the National Agency. companies are identified as directly or indirectly linked to the National However, the progress made did not reach the level required by EU rules Agency: and remained inadequate. The preparatory measure therefore continued 1. Darma Divali LTD, Skopje – owned by Dejan Naumovski, who is also 59 to be suspended”. the president of Council of Youth NGOs and husband of Violeta The diagram shown on Figure 6 investigates the relations between Naumovska, former President of the National Agency’s Executive CSOs and the employees at the National Agency and the private sector. Board. This is a consultancy firm established in January 2008 and Worrying is the fact that the number of employees at the Agency who liquidated in July 2009; come from Struga is quite high (Bosko Nelkoski, Jovan Poposki, Lulesa 2. Libriago LTD, Skopje – owned by Velika Dicoska, mother of Makedonka Iljazi, Tatjana Risteska, Nikola Jauleski and Mersiha Ismajloska). Mersiha Dicoska, former member of the National Agency’s Executive Board. Ismajloska is sister of Nola Ismajloska, who is the contact-person of This company’s seat is identical with the address of Volunteers Council of Youth NGOs and of several other CSOs that benefited from Centre Skopje; project grants awarded under centralized actions managed by Brussels. 3. Agronomija Ogranika LTD – owned by Dejan Zlatkoski from Delcevo Nola is also the authorized person of Pan-European Centre from Mavrovo, and Goce Velickovski from Skopje, both employed in the National and the contact-person of Denica from Skopje. During the 2009 local Agency. Goce Velickovski is also the company’s manager. This elections, Nola was actively involved in the election campaign for agricultural company is located in village Draslajca, Struga, the Slavko Koteski, VMRO-DPMNE’s candidate for Mayor of Struga and Bosko birthplace of Bosko Nelkoski’s father who, by the way, is a three-time Nelkoski’s uncle. beneficiary of agricultural subsidies, the authorized person of Fund The diagram also shows Bosko Nelkoski’s personal relations with for Inter-Regional Cooperation and of Centre for Ruran Development the employees, for example, godfather-godson relation with Lidija in SEE, village Jablanica. Aleksoska, archive officer at the National Agency. Her husband, Ilco Aleksoski, works at Macedonian Railways and is the authorized person of Denica, a CSO known to the Macedonian public as the organizer of counter-protests on Skopje square. Moreover, this CSO is active beneficiary of grants disbursed under centralized actions for Youth in Action (in total amount of 66,214 EUR).

59 http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/key_documents/2011/package/mk_rapport_2011_ en.pdf 60 http://sdsm.org.mk/default.aspx?mId=55&articleId=2029

40 ANALYSIS

Figure 6 – Diagram showing the relations of NA employees to CSOs and private companies

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4. THE SUCCESSFUL DOZEN IN BRUSSELS Although the Executive Agency decides on project applications, programme documents clearly indicate that the selection and grant- The most appropriate illustration of positions upheld by employees awarding criteria shall be applied by the Executive Agency and the National in the National Agency about what is success and what is conflict of Agency. EC regularly updates these criteria in compliance with the priorities interest is identified in the statement issued on 14 January 2010 by for the given year and then publishes them before the Executive Agency and Dimitar Spaseski, PR officer of the National Agency, for the newspaper the National Agencies announce the respective annual Calls for Proposals. Nova Makedonija: “…it is true that the President and the Members of the The employees at the National Agency and the Members of the Executive Board cannot appear as beneficiaries of programme funds, but Executive Board are the first to receive information on the priorities, it should be emphasized that they cannot benefit from funds awarded by changes and new information on the selection and grant-awarding the National Agency. As for the funds awarded by Brussels, just as any criteria, as well as relevant indicators. They are obliged to disseminate other citizen of the Republic of Macedonia, they are entitled to apply this information to end users, and not use it for personal benefit, i.e., for with project proposals, including the President and the Members of the applying on centralized Calls for Proposals, in that competing against 61 National Agency’s Executive Board”. those for whom they exist and from whom they receive their salaries. In essence, this is a biased interpretation of Article 14, paragraph This behaviour is in direct conflict with the exemption criteria63 3 of the Law on Establishing the National Agency that reads: “The indicated in the programmes, and in particular the provisions that President and/or Members of the Executive Board can be dismissed prior concern conflict of interest and misrepresentation in supplying to the expiration of their term of office in cases when : he/she appears as information by the contracting authorities. Nevertheless, these CSOs beneficiary of programmes”. apply on centralized actions in Brussels to show that they are successful. This article refers to the programmes. The Law does not distinguish The logic behind this action is simple: if they are successful in Brussels, between programmes implemented in Brussels and programmes who can contest their projects on national level? implemented by the National Agency. It is a matter of same programmes, Hence, Dimitar Spaseski, PR officer of the National Agency, tried to implemented on centralized and decentralized level. All EU documents give weight and importance to the Executive Board members and in the related to the programmes Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action specify same statement for the newspaper Nova Makedonija he added: that: “The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, located in “Violeta Naumovska and Igor Domazetovski are members of the National Brussels, shall be responsible for the implementation of the programme’s Agency’s Executive Board on the proposal of two very representative and centralized actions. The National Agencies, located in participating exceptionally active CSOs that are implementing projects for several years Member States, shall be responsible for the programme’s decentralized and are beneficiaries of project grants awarded by national institutions actions”.62 and by the EU”.

61 http://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/NewsDetal.asp?vest=114101057393&id=13&setIzdan 63 Articles 93 and 94 of the Council Regulation on financial regulations applicable to the ie=21884 general budget of the European Communities (Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 62 http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/ и http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/ 1605/2002)

42 ANALYSIS

Snezana Manceva, head of sector for the programme Youth in Action, is Bosko Nelkoski’s wife, who – purposefully or not – decided to use her in the statement given for TV 24Vesti64, claimed that funds of the maiden name, although she took her husband’s family name when she programme Youth in Action were not allocated on the basis of nepotism, got married. and evidence thereof was the fact that CSOs benefiting from funds Moreover, the analysis revealed attempts to hide the organization’s awarded by the National Agency had already benefited from grants actual address. Cases are identified where an entire group of CSOs use awarded by Brussels. one address. Project applications included foreigners who now appear as Benefiting from EC funds is an important element in establishing an important project staff. In the past, their names were usually associated organization’s credibility. That is why all CSOs close to the structures to volunteers who have spent some time in Macedonia. at the National Agency make sure they first apply in Brussels, and once Coordinated activities are also identified in terms of (re)registration they are awarded project grants under centralized actions, they create of CSOs. Various changes are made to the records kept by the Central an alibi for success which is used as an argument that there are no Register of the Republic of Macedonia, ranging from change of problems in being awarded grants by the National Agency. authorized persons to changes made to the organizations’ names and/ We followed Snezana Manceva’s advice from the statement given for or seats. Example thereof is Centre for Ruran Development, which raises TV 24Vesti and downloaded the official documents for the programme the question on why would somebody want to register an organization Youth in Action,65 where we found many examples of “successful whose title includes the word ‘ruran’ instead or ‘rural’. projects”. Many questions are raised and need to be answered. One thing is certain: all these cases are related to the National Agency, its employees and the former Director of the National Agency, Bosko Nelkoski. 4.1. Case studies Following are the individual case studies. It seems that the Executive Agency from Brussels has made numerous oversights when deciding on project applications from Macedonia. Our analysis shows that the same group of people has applied with different projects. We see the same founders submitting different project applications from one address or vice versa. People responsible for project implementation are related to the employees at the National Agency. The analysis showed that Verica Kocevska was the contact-person for the project submitted by Council of Youth NGOs. She

64 http://www.24vesti.com.mk/nacionalna-agencija-tvrdi-nema-zloupotrebi-na-evropskite- pari-za-mladi 65 http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/results_compendia/results_en.php

43 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

4.1.1. Oldest youth activist in the World Nelkoski, is also the founder of Centre for Ruran Development in SEE from village Jablanica, Struga68. Address of the company Agronomija Organika Citizens’ Association Fund for Inter-Regional Cooperation from Struga LTD from village Draslajca is identical with the residential address of is a non-governmental organization whose authorized person is Trajce Trajce Nelkoski. Nelkoski, father of Bosko Nelkoski. This organization was awarded project grant in the amount of 23,384 EUR under the second 2008 Call 66 for Proposals for centralized actions, which is published by EU : Although unrelated to this topic, it should be noted that Trajce Nelkoski is a three-time beneficiary of agricultural subsidies – under measure 1.1.269 for planting new orchards, in the amount of 450,000 REFERENCE: 146272-3.1-MK-2008-R2 MKD; under measure 6.7.170 for supporting family agricultural TITLE: Youth Exchange: Happy Together! holdings in areas characterized by difficult production conditions in the amount of 67,000 MKD; and under measure М.1.771 for financial COORDINATOR: Fund for Inter-Regional Cooperation support per area on maintaining existing orchards in the amount MARSAL TITO STR 86 of 103,500 MKD. Moreover, Bosko Nelkoski is the manager of an 72 STRUGA 6330, MK agricultural firm from village Draslajca, Struga. Phone: +38970305882 Citizens Association Fund for Inter-Regional Cooperation from Struga Email: [email protected] is established on 5 December 2007, which corresponds with the period CONTACT: Mr Gjoko VUKANOVSKI when Bosko Nelkoski was appointed Director of the National Agency. MAXIMAL GRANT: € 23,384.00 Gjoko Vukanovski is the organization’s contact-person73 and trainer for Volunteers Centre Skopje. Comparison of these data with those included in the document from the Central Register shows that Trajce Nelkoski, who has entered the six decade of his life, is probably the oldest youth activist in the World who 68 applied and was awarded grant for the project “Youth Exchange: Happy Founding documents of Centre for Ruran Development in SEE, village Jablanica, Struga. See Annex 3. Together!”. Data from the Central Register67 show that the organization’s 69 http://www.ipardpa.gov.mk/Root/mak/_vesti/Novi_ovosni_nasadi_Struga_M112_0611 address is identical with the address of Youth Forum Eye from Struga: Str. 2009.pdf Marsal Tito 86, Struga. As a reminder, Trajce Nelkoski, father of Bosko 70 http://www.ipardpa.gov.mk/Root/mak/_vesti1/Zem_stop_otezn_Struga_M671_1204 2010.pdf 66 http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/results_compendia/documents/description_of_projects_ 71 http://www.ipardpa.gov.mk/Root/mak/_vesti/Ovosni%20nasadi%20postoecki_Struga_ youth_in_action_2008_r2.pdf M17_20052011.pdf 67 Data from Central Register’s records on Fund for Inter-Regional Cooperation from Struga 72 http://www.tradekey.com/company/Foods-Mk-2301520.html and Youth Forum Eye from Struga. See Annex 2. 73 For more information see section 4.2.1. Always-At-Your-Service Gjoko

44 ANALYSIS

4.1.2. Different addresses Interesting is the fact that in the relevant project documents submitted in 2009, Verica indicated her maiden name Kocevska, At the time it was entrusted with the management of the National although one year earlier, in 2008, she got married and changed her Agency, Council of Youth NGOs from Skopje submitted several project surname, i.e., took her husband’s family name. applications for centralized actions under the programme Youth in Action. In the period 2007-2009, Council of Youth NGOs was awarded 8 project grants74 in total amount of 158,582.50 EUR. All 8 project 4.1.3. Foreign contribution? applications indicate a different address from the organization’s official At the time it was entrusted with the management of the National seat: Str. Sava Kovacevik 47/4-6, Skopje. 75 Agency, Macedonian Youth Press from Struga submitted several project Most interesting is the project where Verica Kocevska, Bosko applications for centralized actions under the programme Youth in Nelkoski’s wife, is indicated as the contact-person. Data on this project Action. In the period 2007-2009, this organization was awarded six 76 application worth 24,444 EUR are published by the EC : projects grants77 in total amount of 130,288 EUR. Although the seat of Macedonian Youth Press is in Struga, its first REFERENCE: 153536-3.1-MK-2009-R1 project is registered on the address Str. Sava Kovacevik 47-4/6 in Skopje. TITLE: Re-Creating PR for NGO This address is also indicated as the seat of Council of Youth NGOs and 78 COORDINATOR: COUNCIL OF YOUTH NGOS Volunteers Centre Skopje. Although seated in Struga, Macedonian Youth Press has applied with several projects with an address in Skopje, where Str. Hristo Smirnenski 45/47 app. 19 the second address in Skopje is Blvd. Kozjak9a in Kisela Voda. SKOPJE 1000, MK A girl from Latvia, Inese Priedite79, who in the period June 2008 – Phone: +38975 525864 October 2010 volunteered at Volunteers Centre Skopje, is indicated as Email: [email protected] the contact-person for the project “Creative Leadership” implemented Internet site address: www.youthcouncil.org.mk by Macedonian Youth Press from Struga. Inese Priedite was also the contact-person indicated in the official data of two other projects CONTACT: Ms Verica KOCEVSKA submitted by Volunteers Centre Skopje: “Voices” and “Intercultural GRANT AMOUNT: € 24,444.00 Learning from Gender Perspective”.

74 Detailed list of all projects awarded to Council of Youth NGOs under the programme Youth in Action is given in Annex 1. 77 Detailed list of all projects awarded to Council of Youth NGOs under the programme 75 Records kept by the Central Register, see Annex 2. Youth in Action is given in Annex 1. 76 http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/results_compendia/documents/compendium_round_1 78 Records kept by the Central Register of the Republic of Macedonia, see Annex 2. _2009.pdf 79 http://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/inese-priedite.2005/ 45 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

Then she was indicated as the contact-person in the project submitted official data for another project implemented by Macedonian Youth by CSO Youth Development Fund80 from Ohrid, which is member of Council Press. She is Reele Renamae (today Reele Naumovska) and the project is of Youth NGOs. Youth Development Fund is the national contact-point titled “Portraits of Positive Emotion”. for the programme Youth in Action appointed by the National Agency, List of projects approved under centralized Calls for Proposals for and benefited from grant funds awarded by the National Agency for the Youth in Action and implemented by Macedonian Youth Press at the time project “Meet the Nature”. when it was entrusted with the management of the National Agency Another young activist from Estonia volunteered at Youth Forum includes: Eye from Struga and her name is indicated as the contact-point in the

Grant amount Reference number Project title Coordinator Address Contact (in EUR) 1 292-3.1-MK-2007-2 Training Course Informing – Youth MYP Str. Sava Kovacevik 47-4/6 / 24.779 MK-Skopje

2 138006-3.1-MK-2007-R3 Live Filming – Youth Documentaries MYP Blvd. Kozjak 9a, MK- Skopje / 16.896

3 146160-3.1-MK-2008-R2 FAMOUS-Film, Art, Music, Objectives Utility and Skills MYP Str. Plitista 4/4, MK-Struga Igor Domazetovski 21.039

4 148202-3.1-MK-2008-R3 Portraits of Positive Emotion MYP Str. Kozjak 9a, MK- Skopje Reele Renamae 19.490

5 148328-3.1-MK-2008-R3 Creative Leadership MYP Str. Kozjak 9a, MK- Skopje Ines Priedite 24.823

6 168131-3.1-MK-2009-R3 Your Life is Your Hands MYP Str. Plitista 4/4, MK-Struga Igor Domazetovski 23.261

Macedonian Youth Press – Struga (2007 – 2009) TOTAL 130.288

Table 1 – Projects and relevant grant amounts awarded to Macedonian Youth Press under centralized actions

80 Detailed list of projects is given in Annex 1.

46 ANALYSIS

4.1.4. Money for counter-protests? Although official documents submitted to Brussels show that Denica’s authorized person is Ilco Aleksoski, Gjoko Vukanovski,85 who is trainer Lidija Aleksoska is employed as the archive officer of the National for Volunteers Centre Skopje, uploaded an “urgent notification” for the Agency. She is the goddaughter of Bosko Nelkoski. Her husband, Ilco same project. Struga was indicated as the location for project activities Aleksoski, works at the Macedonian Railways. Records kept by the Central and the contact information reads: Gjoko Vukanovski, Volunteers Centre Register81 confirm that this traffic and transportation technician with Skopje, Str. Sava Kovacevik 47-4/6, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. completed secondary education is the authorized person of Denica, a CSO from Skopje. Under the centralized actions for Youth in Action, CSO Denica 4.1.5. Organizations united was approved funds to implement the following projects: “Focus on Volunteers Centre Skopje was established in March 2006 with a seat Conflicts”, “Activating Inactive Youth Volunteers”, etc. Interesting is the on address Str. Sava Kovacevik 47/4-6, Skopje. This is the home address fact that Denica was approved funds to implement the project “Focus of Nikola Stankoski and his sister, who is head of sector at the National on Conflicts”, although this organization was directly linked to the Agency. It should be noted that Volunteers Centre Skopje shares the same counter-protests on Skopje square. Actually, this organization was an official address as Council of Youth NGOs. The same address is indicated 82 active supporter of the idea to construct a church on the square. in the project application submitted in Brussels by Macedonian Youth After funds for the National Agency were suspended in June 2010, Press from Struga.86 Does this mean that the Stankoski family shares Denica intensively applied for funds under centralized actions for Youth their home with a handful of CSOs? Finally, this organization is in the in Action and was approved project grants in total amount of 66,214 group of privileged organizations that share offices at the premises of EUR,83 including this project: the Municipality of Kisela Voda. Volunteers Centre Skopje is connected to Youth Forum Eye from Struga. REFERENCE: 521657-3.1-MK-2011-R3 If CSOs in Macedonia were ever target of criticism for non-cooperation TITLE: Activating the Inactive Young Volunteers among them, these two organizations set an example for “excellent” cooperation. Notably, until 2010, they shared the same website, i.e., COORDINATOR: Citizen Forum Denica the website of Youth Forum Eye. Even today they share some web links, CONTACT: Ilco Aleksoski such as: http://www.youthforumeye.org.mk/vcs.org/images/stories/ GRANT AMOUNT: € 15,835.0084 voices/VOICES%20April%20%20web.pdf. This link leads to the magazine published by Volunteers Centre Skopje in 2009. The editorial team is given 81 See Annex 2. on page 3 of the magazine, and includes many familiar names (see below). 82 http://www.time.mk/cluster/e3bb598d95/index.html 83 More details on these projects are given in Annex 1. 85 http://plamen00.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/new-opportunities-3 84 http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/funding/2011/selection/documents/round3/ 86 Macedonian Youth Press from Struga indicated the address St. Sava Kovacevik 47/4-6 in compendium_2011_round_3_final.pdf, page 44. Skopje for the project “Training Course Informing – Youth”.

47 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

In the period 2007-2011, Volunteers Centre Skopje was approved 19 project grants under centralized actions for the programme Youth in Action, in total amount of 385,628.00 EUR. Detailed information on these projects is given in Annex 1.

4.2. Same people everywhere A closer look and analysis of projects approved under centralized actions for the programme Youth in Action, raises the question on how did Brussels fail to notice that same people appear under all project applications submitted by CSOs from Macedonia. The same goes for the Macedonian authorities. Surprising is the fact that relevant authorities in Brussels failed to notice this fact although they have Several names from the editorial team at Volunteers Centre Skopje developed several instruments to check project grants. For example, from 2009 are important for the present analysis. They are: incomprehensive is how the centralized system did not indicate the • Gjoko Vukanovski – contact-person for the project “Youth Exchange: irregularities with project grants from Macedonia. Happy Together!”, implemented by the CSO whose authorized person In combination with the fact that EU funds allocated to the National is Trajce Nelkoski, father of Bosko Nelkoski, Director of the National Agency under IPA were suspended, these practices raise serious Agency; concerns. Examples where same people are members of different CSOs • Makedonka Dicoska – member of the National Agency’s Executive are not exclusive only for Macedonia and are common throughout Board at that time, nominated by Council of Youth NGOs; Europe. However, when these people and organizations have close relations to the National Agency that was under suspension until • Lulesa Iljazi – head of sector at the National Agency; recently, the competent authorities should be seriously alarmed. • Semsedin Iljazi – brother of Lulesa Iljazi. At the moment, Semsedin is the director of Centre for Ruran Development in SEE from village Jablanica, Struga.87 Trajce Nelkoski, father of Bosko Nelkoski, is the founder of this organization.

87 Founding documents for Centre for Ruran Development in SEE from village Jablanica, Struga. See Annex 2.

48 ANALYSIS

4.2.1. Always-At-Your-Service Gjoko 4.2.2. Superactive Nola Gjoko Vukanovski is trainer for Volunteers Centre Skopje and is Nola Ismajloska is involved in the programme Youth in Action on involved in different activities implemented by several CSOs. Excerpt several levels. Her profile at SALTO-Youth91 includes a document “Relevant from an Internet text of this CSO88 provides information on people Experiences”92 where she has enlisted all projects, but – purposefully or working at the organization (image on the right). not – has not included the beneficiary organizations. Otherwise, Nola Nothing would have raised suspicion if, in addition to his engagement is active in eight CSOs. We identified the projects’ names in the official at Volunteers Centres Skopje, Gjoko Vukanovski was not involved in documents published by the EU and completed the lists of beneficiaries, projects of other, equally conspicuous, CSOs, those being: which reveals some unexpected information about Nola: • Fund for Inter-Regional Cooperation, from Struga89, whose authorized • Safety Net – implemented by Clear Future from Dolneni; person is Bosko Nelkoski’s father; • Street pARTy – implemented by Centre for Ruran Development in SEE • Denica90 from Skopje, whose authorized person is Bosko Nelkoski’s from village Jablanica, Struga; godson; and • Catch the Moment – implemented by [Macedonian] Youth Press from • Youth Cultural Centre from Veles, whose founders Struga; are members of the close family of Bosko • Yes We Can – implemented by Career Centre from Bitola; Nelkoski’s wife, Verica Nelkoska, also known as • Making it Happen – implemented by Youth Development Fund from Verica Kocevska. Ohrid; • Marketing Management of NGOs – implemented by Centre for Ruran One must not forget that in November 2009 Development in SEE from village Jablanica, Struga; Gjoko Vukanovski implemented the project • Get Inspired to Get Involved – implemented by [Macedonian] Youth “Shakesperience” in Struga with funds approved Press from Struga; by the National Agency in the first round of pilot- • Re-Creating PR for NGOs – implemented by Council of Youth NGOs from projects under the programme Youth in Action. Skopje • Colour My World – implemented by Council of Youth NGOS from Skopje; • Get Involved – implemented by Council of Youth NGOs from Skopje.

88 http://www.euya.ee/tempora/volunteers_guide.pdf 91 http://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/nola-ismajloska.1601/ 89 Youth Exchange: Happy Together! (146272-3.1-MK-2008-R2) 92 http://www.salto-youth.net/downloads/toy_trainer_download-file-1595/Relevant%20 90 http://plamen00.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/new-opportunities-3/ Experiences.doc

49 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

Figure 7 – Slavko Koteski, VMRO-DPMNE’s contract with the National Agency. 97 For example, in 2008 she indicated candidate for Mayor of Struga, and Nola engagement in projects implemented by Volunteers Centre Skopje and Ismajloska Council of Youth NGOs. Her name is related to other projects implemented with funds from the programme Youth in Action. Nola Ismajloska93 is also the In 2010, Neda Ahcieva was actively engaged as a trainer in Turkey, as authorized person of Pan-European part of the project under the programme Youth in Action, although at the Centre from village Rostuse, Mavrovo same time she was employed in the National Agency. 98 In her CV, Neda (until 25 July 2012) and the contact- Ahcieva has enlisted the following positions held: person of CSO Denica from Skopje, as • project manager at Volunteers Centre Skopje (member of Council of indicated in a document published on the National Agency’s website.94 Youth NGOs); During the 2009 local elections, Nola Ismajloska was actively • member of the Executive Board of Macedonian Model of United involved in the election campaign of Slavko Koteski95, VMRO-DPMNE’s Nations (also member of Council of Youth NGOs); candidate for Mayor of Struga. By the way, Slavko Koteski is the uncle of • member of the Supervisory Board of Erasmus Student Network in the infamous Bosko Nelkoski. Macedonia (in 2009 this CSO was awarded project grant in the amount of 9,586 EUR by the National Agency where Ahcieva is employed); and 4.2.3. Superfunctional Neda • expert on project application evaluation under the national actions for Youth in Action. Neda Ahcieva is also active in several CSOs, all awarded project grants In spite of her impressive CV, Neda Ahcieva omitted to include her from EU funds. In parallel with her engagement in the civil society, Neda engagement in Youth Forum Eye from Struga99 and Youth Development is employed as the head of sector at the National Agency in the period Fund from Ohrid100, as part of the project titled “Pyramid” which was 2008 to October 2011, when she left this position. awarded funds under the programme Youth in Action101 in 2008. According to the information she published on the Internet96, obvious is that she was actively involved in activities implemented by the beneficiary organizations, both prior and during her employment

97 http://www.salto-youth.net/downloads/toy_trainer_download-file-1573/CV%20 Neda%20Ahcieva.pdf 93 Record kept by the Central Register, see Annex 2. 98 http://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/reference/tc-on-evs-quality-matters-good-better- 94 www.na.org.mk/tl_files/docs/yia/Database_new_english.xls; Enlisted under No. 10 the-best-evs.2304/ 95 News article from 20.3.2009, authored by Biljana Koloska “VMRO-DPMNE Led a Dignified 99 For more information see Section “Employments in the National Agency”. and Cultured Election Campaign”. 100 Also member of Council of Youth NGOs. 96 http://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/neda-ahcieva.2197/ 101 Reference number: 141879-3.1TN-MK-2008 - 153-2008-R1

50 ANALYSIS

4.3. New CSOs The overview given in Table 2 was compiled in the period before CSOs were obliged to re-register as legal entities in compliance with the new After the suspension of EU funds in 2010, new civil society organizations 2009 Law on Associations and Foundations. These figures provide the sprung like mushrooms after rain. They follow “First Brussels, then conclusion that although the number of CSOs registered in the country Skopje” approach, whereby these CSOs are awarded funds from Brussels is 11,350, certain impact on the social life can be expected only from a first and they become “successful” in Skopje, thereby eliminating any limited number of organizations (maximum 719), if we include those doubts. This process is pursued in two manners: completely new CSOs are with annual budgets of up to 82,000 EUR. However, true impact is registered or existing CSOs change the name and authorized persons. As expected by only 220 CSOs, which accounts for only 6.3% of the total a result, Macedonia caught a “new wave” of “successful” organizations number of CSOs. If a portion of these organizations have obtained funds nonetheless in the period when the number of CSOs was dramatically in a disputable manner, in reality the entire civil society sector loses the decreased from 11,350102 in 2009 to 3,506 in January 2012.103 essence behind its existence. These concerns are more realistic knowing the relevant annual This group of so-called “successful” CSOs demonstrate great governmental budgets of existing CSOs. non-governmental activity by submitting project applications for the same programme in Brussels, nonetheless in the period when IPA funds were Annual budget (in MKD) Number of CSOs suspended for national actions. To make the irony greater, high number of 0 – 100,000 (approximately 1,600 EUR) 9.636 these project grants was awarded to “recycled” CSOs. 100,001 – 500,000 (approximately 8,200 EUR) 672 500,001 – 1,000,000 (approximately 16,300 EUR) 325 1,000,001 – 5,000,000 (approximately 82,000 EUR) 488 4.3.1. Clear Future, Dolneni 5,000,001 – 10,000,000 (approximately 164,000 EUR) 106 Valentin Crvenkoski is employed at a local marble mine in Prilep 10,000,001 – 50,000,000 (approximately 820,000 EUR) 107 (Larin Marmor Company). At the same time, he is the authorized person 50,000,001 – 100,000,000 (approximately 1.6 million EUR) 11 of CSO Clear Future from village Dolneni. In 2011, this CSO was awarded More than 100,000,000 7 grant in the amount of 18,418.00 EUR under centralized actions for Total number of associations and foundations 11.350 the programme Youth in Action to implement the project “Safety Net”. 104 Table 2 – Annual budgets of CSOs according to their final balance sheets Following are the official data for the project : REFERENCE: 521077-3.1-MK-2011-R2 TITLE: Safety Net 102 Data taken from the Strategy of the Government for Cooperation with Civil Society 2012- 2017, pg. 12. Available at: http://www.nvosorabotka.gov.mk/index.php?option=com_ COORDINATOR: Citizens Association “Clear Future” docman&task=cat_view&gid=22&Itemid=37 103 http://cfcd.finance.gov.mk/english/Tender?uuid=9830e3c3-08ba-45ec-8495- 104 http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/funding/2011/selection/documents/round2/ 8c52b1093802 Data indicated in the text can be found in the section “Calls for Proposals”. compendium_2011_round_2_final.pdf 51 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

CONTACT: Valentin Crvenkoski Although this (non)governmental organization is seated in Bitola, GRANT AMOUNT: € 18,418.00 the project description indicates that activities will be implemented in Ohrid. In the end, information is included that certain project activities On the Internet, one can find photographs that clearly indicate this will be implemented in Struga, where Bosko Nelkoski107 and Nola person’s closeness and relation to Bosko Nelkoski, the former Director Ismajloska108 appear as trainers. Nada Hristovska is not present on the of the National Agency.105 photographs of project participants that were published,109 but Bosko Nelkoski is omnipresent. It was Bosko Nelkoski who announced a notification on the Internet for the same project “Safety Net” in search of 3 participants from the In 2009, Nada Hristovska was one of the ten promoters of the United Kingdom, 3 participants from Spain and 4 participants from the programme Lifelong Learning appointed by the National Agency when Czech Republic for the training course to be held in Struga, Macedonia Bosko Nelkoski was the Agency Director.110 Today, Jovan Poposki is the in the period 2-10 April 2012. In this announcement, Nelkoski directs national coordinator for the programme Lifelong Learning, and he is in all interested participants to send the relevant documents to Nola’s family relation with Nada Hristovska. e-mail address ([email protected]).106 In 2009, Nada Hristovska became actively involved in the programme 4.3.2. Career Centre, Bitola Lifelong Learning, specifically under the subprogramme Leonardo Da Vinci, and promotes projects related to agriculture and veterinary.111 Nada Hristovska is teacher at the agricultural VET school in Bitola In April 2009, she was part of a study visit to an agricultural school and is in her fifth decade of life. She is the authorized person of CSO in Rättvik Sweden, and in September 2009, she visited an agricultural Career Centre from Bitola, which in 2011 was awarded project grant in the school in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. amount of 24,990.00 EUR under the centralized action for the programme As part of a project funded under the subprogramme Leonardo Da Youth in Action. Following are the official data for the project: Vinci, she was part of a study visit to Denmark in the capacity of person selected by the National Agency.112 Unfortunately, the internal link113 REFERENCE: 521011-3.1-MK-2011-R on the National Agency’s website related to the “success stories” under Leonardo Da Vinci actions is not functional. TITLE: Yes We Can! COORDINATOR: Career Centre Bitola 107 http://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/reference/tc-yes-we-can.2247/ CONTACT: Nada Hristovska 108 http://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/nola-ismajloska.1601/ GRANT AMOUNT: € 24,990.00 109 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.315750751822528.77107.1337542366888 48&type=3 110 http://www.na.org.mk/tl_files/docs/llp/LLPpromoteri.pdf, Promoter No. 5. 111 https://llp.teamwork.fr/partner_search/detail_archive-2010.php?id=116 105 http://www.facebook.com/#!/valentin.crvenkoski 112 http://www.takidaskalo.edu.mk/TakiDaskalo/documents/Zbornik% 202010.pdf 106 http://www.facebook.com/#!/nelkoski 113 http://www.na.org.mk/uspeshni-prikazni.html 52 ANALYSIS

4.3.3. Quantum, Skopje Quantum is a CSO from Skopje which benefits from Brussels-disbursed funds for the programme Youth in Action. By the end of 2011, Quantum was awarded grants for the following two projects:

Reference number Title: Coordinator: Contact: Grant amount (in EUR): 187729-3.1-MK-2010-R2 Distorted Realities Quantum Sinisa Davcevski 12.667,00

515278-3.1-MK-2011-R1 Sustainable Project Management Quantum Sinisa Davcevski 17.029,00

TOTAL 29.696,00

Table 3 – Projects implemented by Quantum The situation with Quantum is identical. Although it is a CSO Although it is implemented by Quantum, the project “Distorted located in Skopje, the project description includes the information that 114 Realities” is published as project of Volunteers Centre Skopje, with the activities will be implemented in Struga. Records kept by the Central following project data: Register indicate that the authorized person of Quantum is Sinisa Davcevski.115 The excerpt from the Internet text116 of Volunteers Centre TITLE: Distorted Realities Skopje provides more information on the staff that works in this CSO (see the image on page 43). Sinisa Davcevski is part of Volunteers Centre DATES: 02.05.2011-10.05.2011 Skopje’s team, together with Nikola Stankoski and Gjoko Vukanovski. Inese Priedite Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevik 47-4/6 Skopje 1000, Macedonia

114 http://youthexchanges.info/looking-for-partner/call-for-partners-tc-about-media-literacy- 115 See Annex 2. in-macedonia.html 116 http://www.euya.ee/tempora/volunteers_guide.pdf

53 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

4.4. Recycled CSOs Another case of re-branding (or recycling) CSOs is identified with Centre for Ruran Development in SEE from village Jablanica, Struga. This In November 2010, Macedonian Youth Press changed its official name organization made two changes to the authorized person: 117 into Youth Press. From information available on the Internet, it can • first change119 was made in September 2009 and concerns the be assumed that the organization changed its name under pressures replacement of Angelko Markoski (one of the founders of Macedonian exerted from the Greek partner in the projects. Igor Domazetovski, who Youth Press) with Saso Srbinovski in the capacity of authorized was dismissed as member of the National Agency’s Executive Board, person; continues to be the authorized person of this CSO. • second change120 was made in September 2010 and concerns the In 2011, the re-branded Youth Press was awarded project grants under replacement of Saso Srbinovski with Semsedin Iljazi in the capacity the programme Youth in Action. Detailed information on these projects of authorized person, who is brother of Lulesa Iljazi, head of sector is given in Table 4 below: at the National Agency.

Reference number Title: Coordinator: Contact: Grant amount (in EUR): 516019-3.1-MK-2011-R1 Get Inspired to Get Involved Youth Press Igor Domazetovski 15.317,00

520694-3.1-MK-2011-R2 Catch the Moment Youth Press Igor Domazetovski 21.093,00

TOTAL 36.410,00

Table 4 – Youth Press’s projects financed under centralized actions for Youth in Action

Nola Ismajloska and Bosko Nelkoski are enlisted under the first In 2012, Centre for Ruran Development in SEE was approved funds project “Get Inspired to Get Involved”, which is seen from the project from the programme Youth in Action by the National Agency. These video118 uploaded on the Internet. facts indicate to conflict of interests between the authorized person Semsedin and his sister Lulesa who is head of sector at the National Agency. It is a matter of the project “Promotion to Wider Knowledge Towards Rural Areas” funded with 23,922 EUR approved by the National Agency as part of the second deadlines from the 2012 Call for Proposals 117 Entry of changes to records kept by the Central Register concerning Macedonian Youth Press, see Annex 2. 119 Record kept by the Central Register, see Annex 2. 118 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HBFHFouAmw 120 Ibid.

54 ANALYSIS for the programme Youth in Action. As a reminder, Bosko Nelkoski’s Agency to comply with these rules! father, Trajce Nelkoski and Vasko Nelkoski, all from village Draslajca, Similar is the case concerning the so-called Youth Information Struga, are the founders of Centre for Ruran Development in SEE. Bulletin. In Spring 2010, immediately before Bosko Nelkoski resigned The existing conflict of interests is as obvious as the offence. from the National Agency, the Youth Information Bulletin started to Namely, all applicants must make due account of the obligation be published on the Internet and provided information on CSOs that stipulated in Articles 93(1), 94 and 96(2)(a) of the financial regulations develop project proposals for the programme Youth in Action. Hence, applicable to the general budget of the European Communities a strange “consortium” was established that was to represent the (Regulation No. 1605/2002121), according to which the applicants must interests of several youth CSOs whose activities are coordinated by one confirm that they are not in any of the situations indicated therein. centre – Youth Forum Eye from Struga. Moreover, Article 94 of the Regulation no. 1605/2002 stipulates that: To present, a total of ten editions122 of Youth Information Bulletin were “Contracts may not be awarded to candidates or tenderers who, during issued, each corresponding to one Call for Proposals for the programme the procurement procedure: …(a) are subject to a conflict of interest...“ Youth in Action. Same names of CSOs appeared in different editions, Furthermore, the Regulation stipulates: “Contracts may not be awarded those being: to candidates or tenderers who, during the procurement procedure: ….(b) • Youth Forum Eye, Struga; are guilty of misrepresentation in supplying the information required by • Youth Creative Centre, Veles; the contracting authority as a condition of participation in the contract • Centre for Ruran Development in SEE, village Jablanica, Struga; procedure or fail to supply this information”. According to Articles 93 • Youth Development Fund, Ohrid; to 96 of this Regulation, administrative or financial penalties may be • [Macedonian] Youth Press, Struga; imposed on candidates or tenderers who are guilty of misrepresentation • Clear Future, village Dolneni; or have been declared to be in serious breach of the contract for failure • Career Centre, Bitola; to comply with their contractual obligations. • Pan-European Forum, Skopje; Furthermore, Article 95 of the Regulation stipulates an obligation for • Vrutok, Gostivar; the national agencies to ensure compliance with the rules established • Pan-European Centre, Gostivar; at the Community level. Namely, it requires the establishment of a • CSO Horizon, Kavadarci; central database containing details of candidates and tenderers who • Centre for Youth Development and Prevention, Kicevo; are in one of situations described in Article 93 and Article 94, including • Youth Senate, Strumica; conflict of interests. Also, it stipulates that other institutions should be • Centre for Education Research and Development, Skopje. given access to the databases. According to Article 96 of the Regulation, the contracting authorities may impose penalties on candidates or tenderers who have breached the rules. Again, it is up to the National

121 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:l:2002:248:0001:0048:en:PDF 122 https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=165568780156761

55 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

The announcements include some awkward instructions about 5. SECOND AFFAIR document Part 3 that is mandatory for entering project partnership under the programme Youth in Action: Following the 2010 suspension of funds for the programmes managed • “We strongly encourage you to send us an empty Part 3 (with scanned by the National Agency, certain changes were needed in order for stamp and signature so that we can add the project name)…”; Macedonia to be given the right to manage funds under decentralized actions for the programmes in question. Announcements were made for • “You can send us Part 3 to our e-mail address contact@ introduction of greater control on the part of MES, but not on the part youthforumeye.org.mk and we will distribute it to the organizations, of CSOs that might monitor the implementation of these programmes. if needed…”; As a reminder, MCET and FOSM were the first to disclose embezzlement • “Please send us the original as soon as possible to: Youth Forum Eye, of funds committed by the National Agency in October 2009. Str. Proleterski brigadi 37 1/1-2, 6330 Struga”. First, amendments were made to the Law on Establishing the National Agency, especially targeting management issues. Namely, Article 12, Especially interesting is the announcement123 in Youth Information paragraph 3 was changed and now reads: “The Executive Board shall Bulletin no. 7 concerning the deadline 1 May 2012. Namely, this is be comprised of President and four Members, as follows: two members the second deadline from the Call for Proposals announced after the appointed by the Ministry of Education and Science and by the Ministry National Agency’s suspension for the programmes Lifelong Learning and of Finance each, and one member appointed by the Agency for Youth and Youth in Action was lifted. This announcement includes the instruction Sports”.124 Second, employees at the National Agency were awarded status that: “Part 3 required is the old Part 3 (not the abridged version required of civil servants. Third, ardent lobbying was organized in Brussels to have for project applications submitted in Brussels). These projects are awarded the suspension lifted. That was all! This is where actions came to a halt. by the National Agency in Macedonia!”. An impression was created that unwarranted hustle was made about “alleged” abuses and malpractices at the National Agency, in that creating an illusion that the few insignificant oversights made by the National Agency are corrected and it can continue its successful operation. Once the two-year suspension was lifted, the administrative capacity of the National Agency was put to the test, i.e., it was accredited to administer another round of pilot-projects. Unfortunately its performance was again not short of an affair!

124 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CEEQF jAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sobranie.mk%2Fext%2Fexporteddocumentdownloadwindow. aspx%3FId%3D5442a238-1060-4c48-afa8-bb068b22fcad%26t%3Ddoc&ei=f9JGUcOTL8_Jsg 123 https://www.facebook.com/groups/7225927023/permalink/10150664433352024/ b5yYHIAQ&usg=AFQjCNEYiixu209lG2UGwiLbNGJCM4l2Zw&bvm=bv.43828540,d.ZWU

56 ANALYSIS

5.1. Call for Youth – 2012 First Deadline Photographs published on the Internet126 and concerning the project “Sending Hope” do not show the organization’s authorized person Valentin The rules governing the programme Youth in Action envisage Crvenkoski, but include the inevitable Bosko Nelkoski, the former Director announcement of one Call for Proposals annually. Under this Call for of the National Agency. Photographs feature Bosko Nelkoski together Proposals, different deadlines are set for applicants to submit their with one of the former heads of sectors, Neda Ahcieva, actively involved in project proposals. The Call for Proposals for the programme Youth in the implementation of this project supported with funds administered by Action was announced on 19 January 2012. At last, after two years, the National Agency. Obviously, there is no conflict of interests anymore CSOs from Macedonia were given the opportunity to apply for funding because neither Nelkoski nor Ahcieva are employed in the National under decentralized actions of this programme. The Call for Proposals125 Agency, but one must be very careful when inferring conclusions! indicated three deadlines for submission of project applications under three actions, as follows: 5.1.1. No place like Struga Deadlines for submission of project YOUTH IN ACTION applications in 2012 On the first deadline in February 2012, the National Agency selected 1 deadline 2 deadline 3 deadline as many as three grant beneficiaries from Struga. Perhaps, other eligible Youth Exchange 1 February 1 May 1 October beneficiaries from Struga might not be as successful in developing credible (sub-action 1.1) project proposals that would be financed with EU funds such as, for example, European Volunteer Service 1 February 1 May 1 October the municipal administration, public enterprises, schools, cultural centres’ (action 2) however, youth organizations from Struga set an excellent role model!127 Training and Networking 1 February 1 May 1 October (sub-action 4.3) Youth CSOs have rightly understood that projects financed with EU funds are beneficial also for small business entities, and thus one must Table 6 – Deadlines for submission of project applications for the year 2012 welcome the fact that Struga appears as the location of project activities Results of the selection process for the first deadline (February implemented not only by Struga-based programme beneficiaries, but 2012) were published on 7 May 2012 on the official website of the National Agency. The list of CSOs awarded grants under the first round 126 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4316072023285.180073.1331501993&t of applications after the suspension was lifted again includes Youth ype=1 Forum Eye from Struga, which was one of the CSOs that triggered the 127 For example, on the first Call for Proposals funded under IPA Cross-Border Cooperation suspension of programme funds for two whole years. Moreover, this list with the Republic of Greece, a total of 135 applications were submitted and a total of includes the “familiar” organization Clear Future from village Dolneni, 18 projects were selected for funding. The Municipality of Struga submitted two project which was awarded funds for the project “YE Sending Hope”. applications, both of them unsuccessful. The situation is the same in regard to Calls for Proposals with the Republic of Albania, where a total of 60 project applications were submitted on the first call, 17 of which were approved for funding. None of these 125 http://www.na.org.mk/index.php/mk/novosti-detalna/items/povik-za-aplikacii-2012-za- projects include Struga-based entities, i.e., the municipal administration or a public programata-mladi-vo-akcia.html utility enterprise.

57 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report also by other CSOs seated in different towns throughout Macedonia that 5.1.2. Who are the actual project holders? have been awarded funds by the National Agency. These CSOs include: • Centre for Education Research and Development from Skopje; For some projects that were awarded funds by the National Agency under the first deadline of the 2012 Call for Proposals, other CSOs • Forum for New Initiatives Europe 2.0. from Bitola; and had already sought partners and had already promoted the respective • Clear Future from Dolneni. project activities. Examples thereof include: The media reported on the fact that in the February 2012 deadline, the Project no. 1 – “Spinning Around”. Youth Information Bulletin National Agency awarded funds to a project involving the former president no.2 128 published in August 2010 includes information on a project of the Student Parliament at the “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” University in titled “Spinning Around”. In that, the bulletin promotes it as project Skopje. The project in question concerns youth exchange and is titled implemented by Career Centre from Bitola. Again, purposefully or not, “Summer Street Party” implemented by Centre for Education Research and under the first deadline in 2012, the National Agency approved funding Development. Although from Skopje, the organization decided to organize for a project with an identical title (“Spinning Around”) in the amount this summer street party nowhere else but in Struga. Several projects of 24,251 EUR to no other but Youth Forum Eye from Struga. approved by the National Agency are implemented in Struga, irrespective In Youth Information Bulletin no.7 ,129 Youth Forum Eye from Struga of the fact whether the project holder is Centre for Education Research and promotes 12 projects implemented by 9 different CSOs, including Centre Development from Skopje or a Bitola-based CSO, such as Forum for New for Education Research and Development from Skopje, whose project Initiatives Europe 2.0, which was awarded a project grant in the amount of holds an identical title “Spinning Around“. 17,182 EUR under the same selection process. The question is raised on the actual project holder for “Spinning Official data for the Bitola-based Forum for New Initiative Europe Around”: is it Career Centre from Bitola, Youth Forum Eye from Skopje 2.0 indicate that this CSO was established on 16 December 2011, and or Centre for Education Research and Development from Skopje. submitted a project application in February 2012. This means that at the Incomprehensive is how the National Agency failed to recognize this moment when it submitted the project application, this organization fact (on several occasions nonetheless), knowing that it has already existed for only a month and a half, which is contrary to the EU rules for established a database of CSOs that are potential beneficiaries of funds approval of funds. Accidentally or not, one of the trainers engaged in from the programmes Youth in Action and Lifelong Learning, as well as a this project is Ilona Olehova, volunteer from Volunteers Centre Skopje. database of CSOs’ authorized persons. CSO Clear Future from village Dolneni, Prilep, also implemented The same case of different holders was identified in relation to project a project in Struga. This project was awarded a grant in the amount no. 2 – “Sending Hope”. Under the first selection process in 2012, the of 17,397 EUR by the National Agency on the same deadline for National Agency approved funds for the project titled “Sending Hope” submission of project applications. Of course, a grant awarded by the National Agency to the infamous Youth Forum Eye from Struga was also implemented in the same city and in the same hotel. 128 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/opencaucasus/message/1497 129 https://www.facebook.com/groups/7225927023/permalink/10150664433352024/

58 ANALYSIS in the amount of 17,397 EUR implemented by Clear Future from village of sector at the National Agency, which is visible from the register of Dolneni, Prilep. Previously, Youth Information Bulletin no.2 130 enlisted Internet addresses – Marnet.135 information on a project with identical title – “Sending Hope”. In the Previously (September 2011), as part of Youth Information Bulletin bulletin, this project is promoted as project-proposal of Pan-European no.3,136 Youth Forum Eye promoted a project titled “Group EVS – Message 131 132 Forum from Skopje. From official , and other sources, Bosko Nelkoski – Special Kids”. Contact person for this project is Reele Naumoska, appears as the director of an organization with almost identical name: whose e-mail address is: [email protected]. This person was also Pan-European Alliance from Skopje. The organization appointed Bosko indicated in the official contact information for a project implemented Nelkoski as its authorized person in October 2011, while the organization by Macedonian Youth Press from Struga, with a Skopje-based address.137 was enlisted in the Central Register of the Republic of Macedonia in August 2010. Third example is identified with the project “EVS New Message” 5.2. Call for Youth – 2012 Second Deadline - Struga/Youth Forum Eye from Struga. On 7 May 2012, the National Agency published information on awarding project grant to: Unlike the first deadline when results of the selection process were published on the official website of the National Agency – in the announcements and news section – results from the second selection CSO New Message – Struga process (May 2012) were published in one unnoticeable corner of the European Volunteer Service website, as late as November 2012. The list of project beneficiaries “Exploring Diversity” again includes our all-time favourites: 11,600 EUR • Youth Press from Struga (now rebranded); • Youth Forum Eye from Struga (now with 2 projects); and Youth Forum Eye and CSO New Message, both from Struga, are • Centre for Ruran Development in Southeast Europe from village organizations with on-going and direct cooperation with European Jablanica, Struga. Volunteer Service (EVS).133 They even share the same website – that of Youth Forum Eye, of course.134 Holder of the current website registration for Youth Forum Eye to present (2013) is Jovan Poposki, the current head

130 https://www.facebook.com/groups/7225927023/permalink/10150664433352024/ 131 Records kept by the Central Register, see Annex 2. 132 http://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/bosko-nelkoski.1905/ 133 http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=66000156501 135 http://reg.marnet.net.mk/registar.php?dom=youthforumeye.org.mk 134 136 https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=165568780156761 137 Project titled “Portraits of Positive Emotion”.

59 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

Youth Press from Struga is a CSO founded by Igor Domazetovski, Nelkoski (Bosko Nelkoski’s father). CSO’s director at the moment when Member of the former Executive Board of the National Agency. Youth it was awarded funds under the second selection process (May 2012) is Forum Eye from Struga is a CSO founded by Bosko Nelkoski, former Semsedin Iljazi, brother of Lulesa Iljazi, head of sector at the National Director of the National Agency who resigned from office. In that Agency. period, this CSO was managed by the current head of sector at the Interesting is the fact that partners in these, but also in other National Agency, Jovan Poposki. One of the founders of Centre for Ruran projects awarded grants by the National Agency in 2012, were sought Development in Southeast Europe from village Jablanica, Struga, is Trajce through the Youth Information Bulletin issued by Youth Forum Eye.

YOUTH INFORMATION BULLETINE 7! BENEFICIARY ACTION PROJECTS AMOUNT for 1st of MAY 2012 deadline! PROJECTS Youth Exchange Sports back to tradition 12.126 € Name of the projects: TC Media as tool for Changes Organization: Youth CSO Pan-European Centre, village Forum EYE Rostuse, Mavrovo Name of the project: TC HURRICANE OF POSSIBILITIES CSO Youth Press, Struga Youth Exchange YE “Catch the Moment 2 11.792€ Organization: Fund for youth development Name of the projects: TC Volunteerism as a tool for employability Coalition for Yyouth Organizations Youth Exchange My way for making future 19.544,5€ Organization: Fund for youth development NOW, Prilep Name of the projects: TC Safety Net 2 Organization: NGO Jasna Idnina CSO Youth Forum EYE, Struga Youth Exchange YE “Colouring differences to 12.765€ equality” Name of the projects: YE Sports pack to tradition Organization: Pan European Centre Coalition for Youth Organizations European Volunteer Europe Locally 6.420€ Service Name of the projects: YE The vision of my dream work NOW, Prilep Organization: Centre for development and prevention of youth Kicevo CSO Local Agency for Development, European Volunteer Sharpen your 6.689€ Name of the projects: TC “There is no one colored rainbow” Struga Service profesional skills Organization: Youth Senate Youth Association IMKA, Bitola European Volunteer Visual 7.765€ Name of the projects: YE “SPINNING AROUND” Service Organization: Centre for research and development of education Skopje Name of the projects: YE “Colouring differences to equality” CSO Centre for Ruran Development in European Volunteer Promotion to wider 23.922€ Organization: Youth Forum EYE Southeast Europe, village Jablanica, Service knowledge towards rural areas Struga Name of the projects: Catch the Moment 2 Organization: Youth Press Association for Information and European Volunteer A European youth perspective 3.980€ Service Name of the projects: EVS DO RIGHT-YOUTH SERVICE CENTRE Education Youth Info Face, Skopje Organization: Youth Forum EYE CSO Youth Forum Eye, Struga Training and networking Social Media as tool for 15.635€ Changes Name of the projects: PROMOTION TO WIDER KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS Training and networking Hurricane of possibilities 13.706€ RURAL AREAS CSO Horizon, Kavadarci Organization: Centre for Rural Development- SSE Total: 134.344€

Figure 8 – Comparison of projects enlisted in Youth Information Bulletin and projects awarded grants by the National Agency, May 2012. 60 ANALYSIS

Comparison of the lists shown on Figure 8 provide the conclusion The Table below provides an overview of CSOs that were awarded that projects enlisted in Youth Information Bulletin, i.e. by Youth project grants under centralized actions in Brussels: Forum Eye from Struga, are virtually identical with projects selected for No. of Funds awarded until funding by the National Agency under in the second deadlines of the No. Organization 2012 Call for Proposals. In addition to awarding projects grants to Youth projects 2011 (in EUR) Press from Struga, Youth Forum Eye also from Struga and Centre for Ruran 1. Volunteers Centre Skopje 19 385.628,00 Development in Southeast Europe from village Jablanica, Struga, the 2. Youth Forum Eye 11 235.211,50 National Agency also approved projects grants for Pan-European Centre 3. Macedonian Youth Press 8 166.698,00 from village Rostuse, Mavrovo and Horizon from Kavadarci. These CSOs 4. Council of Youth NGOs 8 158.582,50 also appear in the list published by Youth Forum Eye. 5. Youth Development Fund 5 101.611,00 6. Centre for Ruran Development 5 92.104,00 Accidentally or not, on the second deadline for the 2012 Call for in Southeast Europe Proposals, the National Agency approved funds for as many as six of 7. Denica 4 66.214,00 the total of twelve projects from the list published by Youth Forum Eye. 8. Quantum 2 29.696,00 This means that either Youth Forum Eye is very skilful in developing 9. Youth Creative Centre 1 24.941,00 exceptionally good projects or the National Agency, yet again, is awarding project grants to “familiar” CSOs. 10. Fund for Inter-Regional 1 23.384,00 Cooperation The list of project grant beneficiaries also include the coalition Now, 11. Clear Future 1 18.418,00 known to the public for its support in the process on drafting the Law on Total 1.302.488,00 Youth which, due to the pressure exerted by other youth organizations in the country – who were not awarded grants by the National Agency – was removed from the agenda of the Government and the Parliament. 5.3. Call for Youth – 2012 Third Deadline Youth Forum Eye and Volunteers Centre Skopje (CSO founded by Nikola Stankoski, brother of Katerina Stankoska who is the head of sector at Information on new suspicious allocation of funds by the National the National Agency and of Violeta Naumovska, former President of the Agency concerns the first and second deadline of the 2012 Call for National Agency’s Executive Board) – accidentally or not – are members Proposals for the programme Youth in Action. As indicated above, this of this coalition138. In this selection process, funds were awarded to Call for Proposals includes three deadlines, the last one in October the project developed by Youth Association IMKA from Bitola, which – 2012. Although it is end of March 2013, the National Agency has still accidentally or not – is a member of the Coalition Now. not published the results from the October 2012 deadline.

138 http://www.sega.org.mk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=466:xi- &catid=38:2011-03-03-15-09-35&Itemid=79&lang=mk

61 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

For the October 2012 deadline, Bosko Nelkoski personally139 published Youth Information Bulletin no. 10 in the period before the second affair was disclosed. Contents of the text includes: “Seeking partners for the deadline 1 October 2012 set by the National Agency. In this Information Bulletin, we announce information on seeking partners for various projects developed by CSOs from Macedonia. It is important to read what document Part 3 you should submit if you wish to join the projects. These project applications are submitted to the Macedonian National Agency. You can send us Part 3 to our e-mail address [email protected] and we will distribute it to the organizations, if needed. Deadline for submission of partnership forms (Part 3) by email in scanned jpg / pdf version is 25 September, but it would be best if you can send it as soon as possible. Once we confirm that you organization will be our partner, please send us the original documents as soon as possible... ” In the course of 2012, majority of CSOs promoted in Youth Information Bulletin were awarded additional project grants under centralized actions for the programme Youth in Action from Brussels. These projects are given in Annex 1 and 2 – List of Selected Projects – Youth in Action 2012, centralized actions.

139 http://www.facebook.com/groups/YouthForumEYE/permalink/10151018465857024/

62 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

...III... ollowing the announcement of the 2012 Call for Proposals for the programme Youth in Action and the two-year suspension imposed by EC due to irregularities identified in its operations, the National Agency published the names of the successful projects awarded Fgrants. Again, this list includes the same organizations, and is not short of yet another affair. National Agency employees claimed that funds were not allocated on the basis of nepotism, and evidence thereof was the fact that CSOs benefiting from funds awarded by the National CONCLUSIONS AND Agency had already benefited from grants awarded by Brussels under centralized actions. Be that as it may, the research shows that problems RECOMMENDATIONS arise when a group of CSOs benefits from privileged information, i.e., when information is disclosed only to CSOs close to the employees of the National Agency. As a result, it seems that the same group of people has applied with different projects on the Calls for Proposals announced in Brussels, , and we see the same founders submitting different project applications from one address or vice versa. The people responsible for project

63 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report implementation are related to the employees at the National Agency, but Unclear is why the competent authorities did not follow up on are skilful in disguising their connections. Attempts are made to cover suspicions for serious crime when it first appeared in 2010. The up the actual addresses, or there are cases where an entire group of non- impression is gained that the authorities did everything to protect the governmental organizations use one address. Coordinated activities are unlawful actions of the former Agency Director. The findings of the also identified in terms of (re)registration of CSOs. Various changes audit report commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Science are made to the records kept by the Central Register of the Republic do not correspond with findings of the State Audit Office. Moreover, no of Macedonia, ranging from change of authorized persons to changes information was made public as to the follow up actions taken in regard made to the organizations’ names and/or seats, and registration with to the initiative for criminal prosecution of Bosko Nelkoski, motioned (purposeful?) spelling mistake in their title. This group also includes by the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption. organizations whose non-governmental status is suspicious, judging on In order to correct irregularities at the National Agency, the the basis of their “infamous” activities. Government needs to solve the actual problem: the conspicuous pattern It seems that the concept “conflict of interest” is still not disputable of formal and informal relations at the National Agency. Only in this in the National Agency although its meaning is precisely regulated in the manner, Republic of Macedonia would be able to obtain the desired EU Financial Regulation, but also in the Macedonian legislation in effect. accreditation for decentralized management Thus, the following Reasons behind the new affair at the National Agency are crystal recommendations are considered relevant: clear. When examining the shorthand notes from the meetings in the 1. The operation of the National Agency should be thoroughly audited Parliament, obvious is the fact that as early as the establishment of this by a real independent audit company. At the same time, the exceptionally important institution, opposition MPs warned about the involvement of the employees in conspicuous activities should be possible outcomes. It seems that the resignation of Bosko Nelkoski, the examined and adequately sanctioned; former Director of the National Agency, did not suffice to correct the 2. The possible involvement of the audit-company Effect Plus in the situation at the National Agency. National Agency employees – which, scheme, as well as the involvement of the Minister of Education and by the way, were handpicked by Bosko Nelkoski – continued to operate in Science at that time, Nikola Todorov, who contracted Effect Plus, the same manner as when Bosko Nelkoski was the Agency Director: they should be investigated; award grants to “familiar” CSOs and to CSOs close to Bosko Nelkoski, who 3. The initiative of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption now is not in a situation of conflict of interests. Example of conflict of for criminal prosecution of Bosko Nelkoski, the former Director of interests is identified with Jovan Poposki, current head of sector at the the National Agency, and other persons related to him, should be National Agency, who also appears as the registration holder for Youth effectuated; Forum Eye’s website. Another example of malpractices is seen in the fact that on the second selection process (May 2012) the National Agency 4. Amendments to the Law on Establishing the National Agency for awarded a project grant to Semsedin Iljazi, brother of another head of European Educational Programmes and Mobility should be adopted, sector at the National Agency. thereby including provisions on a different composition of the

64 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

National Agency’s Executive Board. Namely, the number of members of the Executive Board should be increased to nine (9) and its composition should include representatives from the following stakeholders: 1) Ministry of Education and Science; 2) Ministry of Finance; 3) National Agency; 4) principal of a primary school; 5) principal of a secondary school; 6) principal of a VET school; 7) representative from a university; 8) representative from a training institution; and 9) a member from a youth/student organization. Executive Board’s new composition would more likely guarantee equitable representation of all stakeholders; 5. All grant contracts signed with non-governmental organizations under the first two deadlines of the 2012 Calls for Proposal should be audited, in compliance with Article 96 from Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No. 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on financial regulations applicable to the general budget of the European Communities: 6. A real campaign promoting the programmes Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action should be implemented.

65 Seventeenth quarterly accession watch report

...IV... Annexes

1. List of selected projects • centralized actions • decentralized actions

2. Records kept by the Central Register OF the Republic of Macedonia

3. Additional Annexes ANNEXES

Annex 1. 1. Lists of selected projects –YOUTH IN ACTION 2007–2011 (centralized actions) The Table below provides a selection of project grants awarded to beneficiaries from Macedonia under the centralized actions for the programme Youth in Action in the period 2007 - 2011.

GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): Vevcani, Centuries of Tradition - Second N/A 1. 272-3.1-MK-2007-2 Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str.47/4-6 1000 MK-Skopje 23.567,00 Edition 2008 2. 273-3.1-MK-2007-2 Why Volunteer? Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str.47/4-6 1000 MK-Skopje N/A 24.656,00 Future Project Possibilities for Exchang- 3. 138033-3.1-MK-2007-R3 Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str.47/4-6 1000 MK-Skopje N/A 20.149,00 ing EVS Volunteers Among EU and SEE 4. 146332-3.1-MK-2008-R2 Together in Vevcani! Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str.47/4-6 1000 MK-Skopje Nikola Stankoski 24.761,00 5. 148286-3.1-MK-2008-R3 Why Walk When You Can Dance? Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str.47/4-6 1000 MK-Skopje Nikola Stankoski 24.858,00 6. 153576-3.1-MK-2009-R1 Met on the streets of Macedonia Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str.47/4-6 1000 MK-Skopje Nikola Stankoski 22.956,00 7. 163586-2-MK-2009-R2 Voices Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str. 47/4-6SKOPJE 1000, MK Bljana Klisarova 7.250,00 Faces Behind Masks - Back to Vevchani 8. 163732-3.1-MK-2009-R2 Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str.47/4-6 1000 MK-Skopje Nikola Stankoski 23.820,00€ 2009 9. 168090-2-MK-2009-R3 Voices Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str.47/4-6 1000 MK-Skopje Inese Priedite 17.500,00 10. 168330-3.1-MK-2009-R3 Intercultural Learning from Gender Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str. 47/4-6 SKOPJE 1000, MK Inese Priedite 22.641,00 Perspective 11. 175618-3.1-MK-2010-R1 Art Inclusive Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str. 57/4-6 SKOPJE 1000, MK Nikola Stankoski 15.456,00 12. 176481-3.1-MK-2010-R1 Shortcut to Happiness Volunteers Centre Skopje Sava Kovacevic Str. 57/4-6 SKOPJE 1000, MK Nikola Stankoski 24.971,00 Carnival as a tool for Intercultural Learn- 13. 187078-3.1-MK-2010-R2 Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A Nikola Stankoski 24.273,00 ing- Back to Vevcani 2011 14. 188227-3.1-MK-2010-R2 Adventureship Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A Nikola Stankoski 20.139,00 15. 193227-3.1-MK-2010-R3 Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A Nikola Stankoski 15.294,00 Improve social & life skills of young 16. 520599-3.1-MK-2011-R2 Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A Nikola Stankoski 19.807,00 people 17. 520761-3.1-MK-2011-R2 Youth for Culture - Back to Vevcani 2012 Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A Nikola Stankoski 24.042,00 18. 521601-3.1-MK-2011-R3 PBA: Better Cooperation – Better Europe Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A Nikola Stankoski 18.300,00 19. 521604-3.1-MK-2011-R3 Say YES to Rural Development Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A Nikola Stankoski 11.188,00 Volunteers Centre Skopje, SKOPJE TOTAL : 385.628,00

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GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT: 1. 016-3.1-MK-2007-R1 Let’s Play! Youth Forum Eye Dimce Kovaceski Str. 1/13MK-6330 Struga N/A 20.095,50 A Million Words – Cultural Monuments N/A 2. 138024-3.1-MK-2007-R3 Youth Forum Eye Dimce Kovaceski Str. 1/13MK-6330 Struga 14.596,00 and Heritage through Camera 3. 138058-3.1-MK-2007-R3 One Step Ahead Youth Forum Eye Dimce Kovaceski Str. 1/13MK-6330 Struga N/A 22.128,00 142230-3.1YE-MK-2008 YOUTH FORUM EYE Dimce Kovaceski Str. 4. Let’s Dance Youth Forum Eye Misko Ashtalkoski 20.202,00 - 215-2008-R1 1/13 142760-3.1TN-MK-2008 5. Me for - Europe - for Me Youth Forum Eye Dimce Kovaceski Str. 1/13 Struga 6330, MK Misko Ashtlkoski 24.115,00 - 216-2008-R1 6. 146327-3.1-MK-2008-R2 Spice it up! Youth Forum Eye Dimce Kovaceski Str. 1/13 Struga 6330, MK Misko Ashtalkoski 23.355,00 7. 148134-3.1-MK-2008-R3 The Sky is the Limit Youth Forum Eye Dimce Kovaceski Str. 1/13 Struga 6330, MK Misko Ashtalkoski 24.338,00 8. 175984-3.1-MK-2010-R1 Up to a Challenge? Youth Forum Eye Marsal Tito Str. 86 STRUGA 6330, MK Zlatko Surdoski 18.905,00 9. 176341-3.1-MK-2010-R1 Event Plastic Fish Can Fly Youth Forum Eye Marsal Tito Str. 86 STRUGA 6330, MK Zlatko Surdoski 20.801,00 YE Social Inclusion Photography: I Have 10. 188285-3.1-MK-2010-R2 Youth Forum Eye N/A Zlatko Surdoski 24.139,00 a Dream! 11. 521639-3.1-MK-2011-R3 YE Two Steps Backward and a Smile Youth Forum Eye N/A Zlatko Surdoski 22.537,00 Youth Forum Eye, STRUGA TOTAL : 235.211,50

GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): Sava Kovakevik Str. 47, 4/6 MK-1000 N/A 1. 292-3.1-MK-2007-2 Training Course Informing – Youth Macedonian Youth Press 24.779,00 Skopje 2. 138006-3.1-MK-2007-R3 Live Filming – Youth Documentaries Macedonian Youth Press Kozjak 9a Blvd. MK-1000 Skopje N/A 16.896,00 FAMOUS-Film, Art and Music, Objectives 3. 146160-3.1-MK-2008-R2 Macedonian Youth Press Plitishta Str. 4/4 STRUGA 6330, MK Igor Domazetovski 21.039,00 Utility and Skills 4. 148202-3.1-MK-2008-R3 Portraits of Positive Emotions Macedonian Youth Press Kozjak 9a Blvd. SKOPJE 1000, MK Reele Rannamäe 19.490,00 5. 148328-3.1-MK-2008-R3 Creative Leadership Macedonian Youth Press Kozjak 9a Blvd. SKOPJE 1000, MK Inese Priedite 24.823,00 6. 168131-3.1-MK-2009-R3 Your Life is Your Hands Macedonian Youth Press Plitishta Str. 4/4 STRUGA 6330, MK Igor Domazetovski 23.261,00 7. 516019-3.1-MK-2011-R1 Get Inspired to Get Involved Youth Press N/A Igor Domazetovski 15.317,00 8. 520694-3.1-MK-2011-R2 Catch the Moment Youth Press N/A Igor Domazetovski 21.093,00 [Macedonian] Youth Press – Struga TOTAL : 166.698,00

68 ANNEXES

GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): Hristo Smirnenski Str. 45/47 app. 19 1. 271- 3.1-MK-2007-2 Get Involved! Council of Youth NGOs N/A 14.751,00 MK-1000 Europe –Think Globally, Macedonia – Act Hristo Smirnenski Str. 45/47 app. 19 1000 2. 138019-3.1-MK-2007-R3 Council of Youth NGOs N/A 24.797,00 Locally MK- Skopje Hristo Smirnenski Str. 45/47 app. 19 Violeta 3. 146232-3.1-MK-2008-R2 Good Idea Council of Youth NGOs 14.019,50 SKOPJE 1000, MK Naumovska Hristo Smirnenski Str. 45/47 APP19 4. 153237-3.1-MK-2009-R1 Colour My World Council of Youth NGOs Nola Ismajloska 21.834,00 SKOPJE 1000, MK Hristo Smirnenski Str. 45/47 app. 19 5. 153536-3.1-MK-2009-R1 Re-Creating PR for NGO Council of Youth NGOs Verica Kocevska 24.444,00 SKOPJE 1000, MK 6. 163392-3.1-MK-2009-R2 Multi-Culti co.ma Council of Youth NGOs Anastas Kocarev Str. 14 SKOPJE 1000, MK Dejan Naumovski 21.747,00 7. 163737-3.1-MK-2009-R2 Macedonian Express Council of Youth NGOs Anastas Kocarev Str., 14 SKOPJE 1000, MK Dejan Naumovski 17.328,00 Violeta 8. 167977-3.1-MK-2009-R3 Chair it Up! Council of Youth NGOs Anastas Kocarev Str. 14 SKOPJE 1000, MK 19.662,00 Naumovska Council of Youth NGOs, SKOPJE TOTAL : 158.582,50

GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): Fund for Youth N/A 1. 270-3.1-MK-2007-2 Fit For Life Jane Sandanski Str. 91 2/3 MK-6000 Ohrid 11.998,00 Development Fund for Youth N/A 2. 138018-3.1-MK-2007-R3 Postcards from Europe Jane Sandanski Str. 91 2/3 MK-6000 Ohrid 23.727,00 Development 141879-3.1TN-MK-2008 Fund for Youth Jane Sandanski Str. 91 2/3 3. Pyramid Dijana Pejcinoska 24.724,00 - 153-2008-R1 Development OHRID 6000, MK Fund for Youth Jane Sandanski Str. 91 2/3 4. 146253-3.1-MK-2008-R2 Meet the Nature Inese Priedite 18.647,00 Development OHRID 6000, MK Fund for Youth 5. 520985-3.1-MK-2011-R2 Making it Happen N/A Elena Kalanoska 22.515,00 Development Fund for Youth Development, OHRID TOTAL : 101.611,00

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GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): Training Course for Public Relations and Centre for Rural Develop- 1. 187924-3.1-MK-2010-R2 N/A Saso Srbinoski 24.989,00 Image Management ment – SEE Centre for Rural Develop- 2. 188292-3.1-MK-2010-R2 Y.E. European Celebration N/A Saso Srbinoski 24.913,00 ment – SEE Promotion of Involvement of Rural Area Centre for Rural Develop- 3. 520991-2-MK-2011-R2 and Promotion to Wider Knowledge N/A Shemsedin Iljazi 3.808,00 ment – SEE Towards Rural Development Centre for Rural Develop- 4. 521000-3.1-MK-2011-R2 Street pARTy 3 N/A Shemsedin Iljazi 23.814,00 ment – SEE Centre for Rural Develop- 5. 521012-3.1-MK-2011-R2 Marketing Management of NGOs N/A Shemsedin Iljazi 14.580,00 ment – SEE Centre for Rural Development – SEE, v. JABLANICA, STRUGA TOTAL : 92.104,00

GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): 1. 188225-3.1-MK-2010-R2 We All are on the Way Citizen Forum Denica N/A Ilco Aleksoski 20.647,00 2. 191980-3.1-MK-2010-R3 90 Km for Planet Earth Citizen Forum Denica N/A Ilco Aleksoski 13.187,00 3. 520791-3.1-MK-2011-R2 Focus on Conflict Citizen Forum Denica N/A Ilco Aleksoski 16.545,00 4. 521657-3.1-MK-2011-R3 Activating the Inactive Young Volunteer Citizen Forum Denica N/A Ilco Aleksoski 15.835,00 Citizen Forum Denica, SKOPJE TOTAL : 66.214,00

GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): 187729-3.1-MK- 1. Distorted Realities Kvantum N/A Sinisa Davcevski 12.667,00 2010-R2 515278-3.1-MK- 2. Sustainable Project Management Kvantum N/A Sinisa Davcevski 17.029,00 2011-R1 Kvantum, SKOPJE TOTAL : 29.696,00

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GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): 521011-3.1-MK- 1. Yes We Can! Career Centre Bitola N/A Nada Hristovska 24.990,00 2011-R2 Career Centre Bitola, BITOLA TOTAL : 24.990,00

GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): Youth Creative Centre 1. 187345-3.1-MK-2010-R2 TC Dialogues for Europe N/A Gjorgji Zhezhov 24.941,00 Veles Youth Creative Centre, VELES TOTAL : 24.941,00

GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): Fund for Inter-Regional MARSAL TITO Str. 86 1. 146272-3.1-MK-2008-R2 Youth Exchange: Happy Together! Gjoko Vukanovski 23.384,00 Cooperation STRUGA 6330, MK Fund for Inter-Regional cooperation, STRUGA TOTAL : 23.384,00

GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS: CONTACT: AMOUNT (IN EUR): Citizen Association “Clear Valentin Crven- 1. 521077-3.1-MK-2011-R2 Safety Net N/A 18.418,00 Future” koski Citzien Association “Clear Future”, v. DOLNENI TOTAL : 18.418,00

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Annex 1. 2. Lists of selected projects –YOUTH IN ACTION 2012 (centralized actions) The Table below provides a selection of project grants awarded to beneficiaries from Macedonia under the centralized actions for the programme Youth in Action in 2012. EU funds for decentralization actions under this programme were unblocked.

GRANT REFERENCE: TITLE: COORDINATOR: ADDRESS CONTACT AMOUNT (IN EUR): 1. 526491-2-MK-2012-R1 VOICES Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A N/A 6.820,00 2. 526158-3.1-MK-2012-R1 SV GET INVOLVED 2 Youth Press N/A N/A 24.301,00 Citizen Association “Clear 3. 526162-3.1-MK-2012-R1 TCSafetyNet2 N/A N/A 24.720,00 Future” 4. 526489-3.1-MK-2012-R1 Bridging Divided Communities Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A N/A 22.964,00 5. 526207-3.1-MK-2012-R1 Social Media for Social Change Youth Forum EYE N/A N/A 20.594,00 6. 526265-3.1-MK-2012-R1 Unemployed vs. EmployedTour Kvantum N/A N/A 16.044,00 7. 526276-3.1-MK-2012-R1 BeGreen.EmpowerOthers Citizen Association ”ORO” N/A N/A 20.853,00 8. 526152-3.1-MK-2012-R1 Eight Intelligences Youth Forum EYE N/A N/A 23.888,00 9. 526271-3.1-MK-2012-R1 Be active 24 Kvantum N/A N/A 21.627,00 10. 526417-3.1-MK-2012-R1 The Good Fairy and the Plastic Dragon Clear Future N/A N/A 23.635,00 11. 526490-3.1-MK-2012-R1 Gamestorming Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A N/A 22.803,00 12. 533108-3.1-MK-2012-R2 Change Laboratory: Second Floor Volunteers Centre Skopje N/A Mr. Nikola Stankoski 19.750,00 Domino Effect- Volunteering to Employ- N/A 13 533149-3.1-MK-2012-R2 YOUTH SENATE Strumica Mr Aleksandar Jeftimov 22.093,00 ability 14 533140-3.1-MK-2012-R2 YE Specter of Similarities Pan European Centre N/A Ms Nola Ismajloska 24.701,00 Association of Citizens N/A 15 533426-3.1-MK-2012-R2 More Greenery More Health for Voluntarism “ORO” – Mr. Damjan Spasovski 19.894,00 Skopje 535316-3.1-MK-- Youth Creative Center 16 TC Challenge and Change N/A N/A 24.970,00 2012-R3 Veles 534797-3.1-MK-- 17 YE “The Plastic Dragon - Back to Nature” Clear Future N/A N/A 21.175,00 2012-R3 534825-3.1-MK-- 18 Revive Tradition with Sport Pan European Center N/A N/A 23.723,00 2012-R3

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Annex 2. Lists of selected projects awarded grants by the National Agency – YOUTH IN ACTION 2012 7 May 2012 Deadline: 1 February 2012 Total of 45 project applications were submitted on this deadline. List of successful project applications (deadline: 1 February 2012)

BENEFICIARY ACTION PROJECT GRANT AMOUNT (in EUR)

Centre for Education Research and Development – Skopje Youth Exchange YE “Summer Street Party” 21.707

Youth Forum Eye – Struga Youth Exchange Spinning Around 24.251

Clear Future – Dolneni Youth Exchange YE “Sending Hope” 17.397

Centre on Improving Quality of Life for Persons with Intel- lectual Disabilities and Their Families NEW MESSAGE – European Voluntary Service Exploring Diversity 11.600 Struga

Local Agency for Development – Struga European Voluntary Service Workshop for Self Development 13.085

Porta Bunjakovec А2-1, МК-1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; tel (02) 3109 045, fax. (02) 3109 043 website: http://www.na.org.mk; e-mail: [email protected]

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7 May 2012

Ajde Makedonija: Exchange of Centre for Intercultural Dialogue – Kumanovo European Voluntary Service 10.610 European Experiences in Youth Work

Youth Association IMKA – Bitola European Voluntary Service New Horizon 4.240

Erope – Together, for Active Yo uth Youth Association KREAKTIV – Skopje European Voluntary Service 13.250 Citizenship

Sharing and Learning: A Seminar on First Children’s Embassy in the World MEGASI – Skopje Training and Networking 18.819 the Inclusion of Marginalized Youth

Forum for New Initiatives Europe 2.0 – Bitola Training and Networking Voluntering is Simple 17.182

Total: 152.141

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27 August 2012 Deadline: 1 May 2012 A total of 44 project applications were submitted on the second deadline. List of successful project applications (deadline: 1 May 2012)

BENEFICIARY ACTION PROJECT GRANT AMOUNT (in EUR)

Pan European Centre – Mavrovo, v. Rostuse Youth Exchange Sports Back to Tradition 12.126

Youth Press – Struga Youth Exchange YE “Catch the Moment 2“ 11.792

Coalition of Youth Organizations NOW –Prilep Youth Exchange My Way for Making Future 19.544,5

YE “Coloring Differences to Equal- Youth Forum Eye - Struga Youth Exchange 12.765 ity”

Coalition of Youth Organizations NOW –Prilep European Voluntary Service Europe Locally 6.420

Porta Bunjakovec А2-1, МК-1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; tel (02) 3109 045, fax. (02) 3109 043 website: http://www.na.org.mk; e-mail: [email protected]

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