A specialised capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening law enforcement and judicial practices in financial investigations and asset recovery took place in Sarajevo on 12 March 2025.
Supported by Council of Europe experts, the workshop brought together representatives from courts, prosecutors’ offices, and law enforcement agencies to examine Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legal framework and current practices related to the identification, seizure, and recovery of illicit assets. Discussions focused on aligning domestic procedures with international standards and improving operational effectiveness.
A central feature of the workshop was the technical assessment of four concluded court cases from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Council of Europe experts provided a detailed analysis of each case, covering all phases—from pre-trial investigation and evidence gathering to final verdicts and asset recovery outcomes. Based on these assessments, tailored recommendations were shared to enhance the effectiveness of national practices and align them with key international instruments, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations, the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and relevant EU directives.
Through in-depth case studies and collaborative discussions, participants explored practical proposals to improve investigation techniques, prosecutorial strategies, inter-agency cooperation, and mechanisms for asset tracing, seizure, and confiscation.
This workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to reinforce Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legislative and institutional capacities to combat corruption, money laundering, and terrorist financing—while ensuring more effective enforcement of asset recovery measures in line with European and international standards.
The event was held as part of the Council of Europe's three-year initiative focused on combating corruption, money laundering, and terrorist financing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, funded under the Council of Europe and the European Union’s joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and by a voluntary contribution of the Council of Europe.