On 12 May 2026, the Council of Europe organised two key activities to support Bulgarian authorities in strengthening their capacities to investigate and prosecute terrorist financing cases. The events were organised in cooperation with the European Commission and the Ministry of Justice of Bulgaria, with the aim of advancing strategies against terrorist financing, aligning efforts with recommendations from MONEYVAL’s 2023 Mutual Evaluation Report on Bulgaria and the country’s commitments under the FATF action plan.
The first session focused on presenting objectives and core recommendations for revising internal guidelines and procedures among competent authorities in terrorist financing investigation. Discussions highlighted best practices for parallel financial investigations, with contributions from the State Agency for National Security, the Ministry of Interior, the National Investigative Service, and the Prosecutor’s Office. These agencies shared insights into their roles in coordinated investigations, underscoring the critical importance of inter-agency cooperation. Key recommendations and proposals for harmonising internal guidelines were discussed, aiming to enhance coordination and effectiveness.
The event further included a session focused on developing a strategic training plan for law enforcement, intelligence, and prosecution bodies involved in terrorist financing investigation. Challenges identified in recent needs assessments were addressed, emphasising the necessity of targeted training to strengthen specialised competencies. Participants examined draft materials detailing objectives, training modules, delivery approaches, and implementation strategies, with breakout discussions on validation, practical application, and sustainability.
Following the active input of participants, the written materials containing recommendations will undergo further review to ensure they reflect the practical needs identified. Future technical assistance efforts will support Bulgarian authorities by facilitating additional training opportunities and peer-to-peer exchanges, further enhancing their capacity to investigate and prosecute terrorist financing in line with European and international standards.
The above-mentioned activities were organised within the framework of the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) project on “Enhancing the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) framework in Bulgaria”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.