NEW FORMS OF INTERNATIONAL SEARCH OF FUGITIVES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AND USE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE MEASURES

Abstract

We live in a world where there is not a country, that is not affected or in which the crime is not known. Open borders, reduced border control, the development of science, technology and techniques allow rapid flow of persons and goods, thus quickly crossing the borders and transferring the crime along with all dangers that its carries with. Such benefits for crime and its perpetrators offer unlimited possibilities for achieving their goal to gain profit. As a consequence, the number of criminal acts is rising along with the organized elements and international characteristics. The data and practice shows that the number of conducted criminal proceedings in absence of the accused person is growing because they are not available for the authorities of criminal justice. In this context we would add that the practical experience of the authors confirms that in the past years most of the issued international warrants in the Republic of Macedonia are for persons convicted in absentia. This paper is an attempt of the authors to highlight some of the innovations that are practiced in tackling crime within the EU and suggests the need for their daily use out off the Union, by presenting the existing legislation in the Republic of Macedonia, Austria and Croatia, which regulate the field of the international search of fugitives, the application of special investigative measures in the field of searches and the need for establishing special search units and a network for international searches. The paper shall be an initiative for further researches and debates on this topic in order to find appropriate solutions to deal with crime and its perpetrators and successfully initiating, conducting and completion of criminal proceedings.