Major challenges the BiH law enforcement is facing include effective fight against organised crime and corruption, enhancement of coordination with prosecutors, strengthening of international police cooperation and harmonisation of legislation with the EU Acquis. These key areas have been addressed since May 2012 in the scope of the EU-funded project „EU Support to Law Enforcement“ through around 500 concrete target oriented jointly developed activities of different formats, utilising expertise of 240 national and international experts as a guarantee of holistic, systematic, and needs-oriented approach.
In cooperation with the BiH Ministry of Security and the EU Delegation to BiH, the Project hosted a high-level conference today in Sarajevo to analyze the impact up-to-date. The project’s results extend into various fields. Among other things, by pulling the BiH expertise on strategic and operational analysis together, the Project helped to draft the first BiH Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) in line with Europol methodology and supported the country in its efforts to develop a new Organised Crime Strategy. These documents serve as a cornerstone in the effective cooperation between national law enforcement and partners abroad. To give further impetus to the fight against organised crime and corruption, the Project presented minimum legal standards for the asset seizure and assisted in preparing draft Law on Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism in line with the MONEYVAL requirements. Furthermore, a new Border Police Strategy and Action Plan have been introduced to assist BiH in fully embracing the obligations of the EU neighbour.
Chargé d’Affaires a.i of the EU Delegation to BiH, Holger Schroeder, said that this Project has met its ambitious goals and that many aspects of its implementation can be considered as example of good practice. He stressed that nevertheless a lot remains to be done: “We are looking forward to continue with the BiH law enforcement agencies the approach of partnership and European integration that we have started with this project, supported through dialogue and concrete projects. There is space for improvement when it comes to the cooperation and coordination between relevant law enforcement agencies, the use of the police data exchange system and the systematic exchange of criminal intelligence. Keeping the same spirit of partnership, our future projects in the law enforcement area will work more in depth on jointly selected priorities, among them money laundering, asset seizure, corruption, and strategic management.”
On behalf of the Consortium, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, highlighted that this 24-month long project, managed by 11 long-term experts with a specific focus on ten rule of law areas was the largest security project Austria has implemented, hand-in-hand with colleagues from across the EU: Hungary, Slovenia, Brandenburg, International Centre for Migration.
Policy Development and Transparency International, with the financial resources of the European Union. “Strengthening the security of partners in the Western Balkans, in this case of BiH, automatically results with the strengthening of security in Austria and in the EU. We stand together against transnational challenges such as terrorism, organised crime, money laundering, etc. Our response must be fast and efficient. Only together we are strong.”
In the address on behalf of the BiH Project Coordinator, Minister of Security of BiH Fahrudin Radončić said that challenges faced every day in the field of rule of law represent a permanent reminder to the institutions and law enforcement agencies in BiH to keep continuously improving capacities and capabilities in the fight against organised crime and corruption, enhancing cooperation between police and prosecutors both within BiH and internationally. “The Project has empowered the law enforcement in BiH with the required level of professional skills necessary for accession to the EU, and thus provided assistance to BiH in fulfilling its obligations from the SAA, because it is the European path we want to take, not only in the Ministry of Security but also in the entire BiH.”
The conference was attended by the highest-level officials of the BiH police and judicial institutions, as beneficiaries, the implementing Consortium members, practitioners, and experts from BiH and the region.
The EU Support to Law Enforcement Project is funded by the EU in the amount of 7 Million EUR, from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA 2010). The project has started on 2 May 2012 and it will continue until 30 April 2014. The project consortium partners include the Ministries of Interior of the Republic of Austria, Republic of Slovenia, Hungary and of the Land Brandenburg of the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and Transparency International BiH (as an Associate). Beneficiary partners are BiH law enforcement agencies at state, entity, cantonal and Brčko District BiH level.
Read the full speech by Mr. Holger Schroeder here
