Mr. Igor Dimitrov, State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Martin Klaucke, Head of Operations of the EU Delegation in Skopje, Mr. Aleksandr Trgachevski, BC Project Leader and Ms. Loreta Maskaliovienė, Member State (MS) Project Leader officially closed the project.
The above-mentioned EU Twinning project of Lithuania in the Beneficiary Country was implemented by the following Lithuanian partner institutions: Ministry of Finance, Central Project Management Agency, Financial Crime Investigation Service, Special Investigation Service and Prosecutor General's Office.
Overall, this Twinning light project aimed to improve the national capacities of the FPO for protection of the EU financial interests and cooperation with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). In addition, this project improved national legal framework, reinforced administrative capacities of the national institutions and strengthened cooperation within the system for fight against fraud and irregularities of EU funds.
EU Twinning light project worth € 250 000 was financed under the European Union IPA 2011 Programme and was implemented over a period of 8 months. The Financial Police Office (FPO) within the Ministry of Finance was the main beneficiary of the action.
The successful cooperation between Lithuanian and BC institutions, namely the Ministries of Finance of both countries and the Central Project Management Agency will further be continued under the EU Twining light project “Strengthening the capacities of the national authorities for sound and efficient management of EU Funds, as well as in view of the new EU Regulation for the 2014-2020", which will start in September.
EU Twinning is an instrument launched by the European Commission with a view to assist EU Candidate countries and newly accepted EU MS to harmonise national legislation with the acquis of the European Union.
Representatives from the public administrations of the EU MS and of beneficiary country work together in order to transfer the know-how and good practices developed within the EU to beneficiary public administrations during implementation of the Twinning Project.