4.6 Mission to Skopje field of capacity-building of the Border Police in the country and in the region. The Regional PCCC project initiated and implemented by the Mission was also introduced to participants. Counter-Terrorism & P/C VERLT On 21 and 23 March, the Mission monitored one-day rollout delivery of the PERT training (Prevention from violent Extremism and Radicalization that lead to Terrorism by applying Community Policing approach) in the SIA Ohrid delivered by national trainers. In total, 53 front-line police officers attended the training on how to detect signs of radicalization and violent extremism in the communities where they serve. The training consisted of interactive presentations on PERT supplemented by group exercises. At the end of training, trainees received copies of the pocket-size guidebook on PERT. From 24 to 28 April, the Mission organized five-day training on Agent Recruitment Cycle in Countering Terrorism with participation of 26 trainees from the MoIA’s Administration for Security and Counter Intelligence and the State Intelligence Agency. The course was delivered by two experts from the Turkish National Police and aimed to improve trainee knowledge and skills in modern methods used by law enforcement agencies against terrorism and to strengthen the capacity of trainees in the agent recruitment process. The training programme covered various subjects including homeland security intelligence, importance of recruitment and management, principles of agent recruitment, handling of and interviewing agents, process and legislation on agent recruitment and case studies. From 19 to 21 September, the Mission supported the implementation of the Regional Conference on Management and Negotiations in Crisis Situations Caused by VERLT. The conference, which took place in Ohrid, was organized by the MoIA. Representatives from the MoI and academics from various countries discussed views on the importance of the management and negotiations in dealing with crisis situations caused by VERLT. The international character of the conference largely contributes to the enhancement of the regional security structures’ capacities for solving and dealing with crisis situations, while providing a platform for sharing experience, lessons learned and ideas within law enforcement across the SEE region. From 7 to 9 November, the Mission co-organized a two and a half day table top exercise (TTX) in Skopje entitled “Foreign Terrorist Fighters: Promoting Prevention and Resilience” with the US Embassy, the Partnership for Peace Consortium and the Office of the National Coordinator on Countering Violent Extremism and Fight against Terrorism. More than 96 100 participants, including senior government officials, community leaders, law enforcement officials, members of civil society, academia and participated in the event. The TTX aimed to explore policy issues related to the ongoing risks of home-grown terrorists and FTFs returnees, regional and national responses, together with future counterterrorism and security-related efforts. The event explored concepts related to broadening partnership, comprehensive strategies and approaches, enhanced information sharing and strengthened border security. Illicit Drugs and Chemical Precursors On 17 and 18 May, the Mission organized a two-day workshop on combating synthetic drugs titled “New Psychoactive Substances and Clandestine Laboratories”. The workshop was a part of the Mission’s multiple year endeavours aimed at strengthening the country’s law enforcement capacities in preventing and suppressing organized crime. The workshop was organized in co-operation with the Italian Embassy in Skopje and the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs Central Directorate for Anti-drug Services. 30 investigators from MoIA Bureau for Public Security, Counter Intelligence Service and Customs Administration attended the workshop. On 20 and 21 September, the Mission, in co-operation with the Italian Embassy in Skopje and the MoIA, organized a two-day workshop titled “Drugs Online” in MoIA’s Training Centre in Skopje. This activity aimed to improve law enforcement capacities in addressing challenges of illicit drugs offered on the darknet market. Two Italian experts facilitated the workshop presenting different practical investigative techniques on conducting online investigations. 20 participants from the MoIA, Administration for Security and Counter Intelligence and State Intelligence took part in the workshop. From 6 to 10 November, the Mission, in co-operation with the Italian Embassy in Skopje, organized a working visit to the Italian Central Directorate in Rome for Anti-Drug Services for six MoIA senior management officials in order to learn from the Italian experience on the fight against illicit drug trafficking. The police officials visited multiple offices in order to understand the practical application of the system in place, the structure and tasks of the central Direction for Anti-Drug Services and the inter-institutional co-operation. As the result of this event, a review of the organized crime threat assessment on drug trafficking will be initiated. Furthermore, the knowledge acquired during the working visit will enhance the senior management of the MoIA’s capacities to develop strategies and institutional operation capabilities on countering drug trafficking.