Workshop in North Macedonia – Relevance of strategic analysis and the SOCTA methodology

The workshop “The relevance of strategic analysis – SOCTA questionnaires” took place in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia on 21 September 2021, aiming at raising awareness for strategic analysis, SOCTA methodology and process and SOCTA questionnaires.

The workshop involved representatives, mainly analysts, of all national law enforcement agencies and competent institutions that are part of the inter-institutional working group tasked to prepare the national SOCTA 2021-2024, being the Ministry of Interior, Customs Administration, Financial Police, Financial Intelligence Unit, State Environmental Inspectorate and Public Prosecution Office. The working group is entering an important – final stage in the development of the national threat assessment document, which in accordance with the defined dynamic, should be completed by December 2021. In this context, the event served as an advanced tool towards further strengthening the capacities of North Macedonian institutions to conduct strategic and operational criminal analysis in an EU-harmonised manner and in line with Europol’s SOCTA methodology. “A very important aspect of this event is the participation of analysts from the competent law enforcement agencies and alongside them prosecutors representing the judicial segment as a key ring in the fight against organized crime” as pointed out  by Ms. Anna Marinelli, CSC WB Component Leader.

The strategic analysis process, EU SOCTA 2021, Europol’s methodology and related questionnaires were elaborated in full. Also, practical examples were shown on how to fill in Europol’s questionnaires and analyze organized criminal groups, putting the focus on the relevant indicators to be used by the analysts.

“Strategic threat analysis is a powerful weapon in the hands of decision-makers, but at the same time, precisely defined and analyzed criminal threats can provide for successful completion of the operative activities and criminal investigations” concluded Mr. Vito Ingrosso, Major in the Italian Europol Unit, expert on the topic.

Photo Source: IMoI