On 12 November 2018, Ms Lenche Ristoska took up her duties as the first Liaison Prosecutor for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at Eurojust. Before her secondment to Eurojust, Ms Ristoska served as a prosecutor at the Special Public Prosecutors’ Office in Skopje. She also previously worked for the Department for International Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters of the Primary Public Prosecutor’s Office of Skopje, executing incoming mutual legal assistance (MLA) requests as well as in the Department for Drugs, Sexual and Violent Crimes.

The appointment of liaison prosecutors is foreseen in the cooperation agreement between Eurojust and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which was concluded in 2008. Liaison prosecutors play an important role in facilitating ongoing investigations of serious, cross-border, organised crime, given the increased number of cases that have connection with the Western Balkans.

The appointment of liaison prosecutors from Western Balkan states at Eurojust is also part of Eurojust’s efforts to build up structural, judicial cooperation in the region in the fight against serious, cross-border crime. More information on Eurojust’s cooperation with the Western Balkans is available at the Eurojust website.