Judges and prosecutors from Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in a specialised training on financial investigations and asset recovery. The Council of Europe cooperated with the centres for education of judges and prosecutors of the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska on fine-tuning the training’s content and reaching out to judges and prosecutors across the country and on multiple levels.

The training session in Neum on 2-3 October 2025 strengthened the skills of judicial professionals in tackling complex financial crime, corruption, and money laundering cases. It covered a wide range of topics, including ethical and criminal investigations, special investigative techniques, forensic methods, and the legal and practical aspects of seizing and recovering assets obtained through criminal activity.

Previously, Council of Europe experts analysed four selected adjudicated cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina that involved various considerations and verdicts related to financial investigations and asset confiscation. The analysis assessed the efficiency of investigations, the quality of evidence, the use of methodology and special techniques, as well as cooperation among agencies. It also highlighted common challenges and shortcomings, offering proposals for improvement which were presented at the training as well.

By improving the capacity of BiH institutions to combat corruption and financial crime, the training contributes directly to the vision outlined in the Council of Europe Secretary General’s recent report Towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe, of institutions that are more transparent, accountable, and resistant to corruption – qualities essential to the resilience of democratic societies.

The training session was held as part of the Council of Europe project against corruption, money laundering, and terrorism financing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, implemented under the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025 and funded through voluntary contributions.