POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE service in line with international democratic principles and human rights standards leading to comprehensive security, by delivering and facilitating police training, supporting the development and implementation of the National Police Reform processes and providing expertise at the policy and planning level. During 2019, the Mission continued to support the MoIA in improving its professional capacity while advancing the implementation of police reforms, and strengthening its institutional capacity and efficiency in applying the principles of democratic policing in a multi-ethnic society, taking into account gender sensitive policies. The Mission also continued to support the law enforcement agencies in strengthening their institutional capacities in the fight against transnational threats with a focus on combating organized and serious cross-border crime and terrorism, including financial crimes, cyber security, THB, illegal migration and effective border management. Activities Related to General Police Development and Reform Police Development and Reform On 7 and 8 February, the Mission organized a ‘kick-off ’ workshop in Struga for the MoIA’s WG that is developing the HRM Strategy. The WG was tasked to draft, review and finalize the new 2020 to 2022 Strategy and an Action Plan. In their capacity as a WG member, a Mission representative provided a presentation on the components of HRM, international standards and best practice, the online application for recruitment, the promotion exam, the automated performance appraisal system, the creation of a backlog list of candidates and clear job descriptions. From February to October, the Mission supported the MoIA’s WG on HRM Strategy by facilitating six WG meetings to draft the strategy. As strategic priorities, the strategy indicated the development of a merit-based career development model, implementation of a promotion exam, a pool of candidates, an online recruitment system, an improved annual performance appraisal system and a contemporary human resources information system. In December, MoIA approved both documents. On 27 and 28 February, the Mission organized a ‘kickoff ’ workshop in Bitola for the MoIA’s WG on drafting the Training Centre (TC) Development Strategy and Action Plan, who are entrusted to draft, review and finalize. The Mission’s representative, as a WG member, presented the Mission’s 2018 Report on the MoIA’s Continued Professional Development, its recommendations and findings. WG members further discussed the overview of the achievements from the last strategy, obstacles faced, unimplemented priorities, and the comparative strategic focus of the Ministry. From March to October, the Mission supported the work of MoIA’s WG in drafting the TC Development Strategy by facilitating six WG meetings in Skopje to support the drafting of the MoIA’s 2020 to 2022 TC Development Strategy. Both the Strategy and the Action Plan provide a comprehensive strategic ‘roadmap’ that will guide TC’s sustainable capacity and infrastructural development in the next three years. In December, the Minister of Internal Affairs approved both documents. From 5 to 7 March, the Mission organized a ‘kick-off ’ workshop in Veles for the MoIA’s WG tasked with drafting, reviewing and finalizing the Community Engagement and Communications Strategy and Action Plan. WG members agreed on the methodology, format and content of the strategy, expressing confidence that they will be able to identify and draft both documents. From March to October, as foreseen in the drafting of the MoIA’s 2020 to 2022 Community Engagement and Communication Strategy, the Mission supported the MoIA’s WG on Community Engagement and Communication by facilitating six WGs in Skopje and two focus group meetings in both Skopje and Strumica. During both focus group meetings, participants discussed the key safety concerns and their ideas for interventions in relation to the legal framework, police organization and local government. The strategy presented the pillars ‘accountability’, ‘ownership’, ‘partnership’ and ‘sustainability’ as the main strategic goals to enhance the cooperation between police and local communities. In December, the Minister of Internal Affairs approved both documents. 91