Newsroom Action against Economic Crime Regional - Phase 3
Strengthening the understanding of environmental crime risks among financial institutions and non-financial businesses and professions in the Western Balkans
Environmental crime, driven by high financial gains, has emerged as one of the most profitable forms of trans-national criminal activity. It is increasingly linked to organised criminal networks while generating significant money laundering and terrorist financing risks. This requires increased...
Strengthening regional response to environmental crime, corruption and money laundering in the Western Balkans
Environmental crime poses a growing threat to natural resources, governance, and stability in the Western Balkans and beyond. These crimes often thrive on corruption, generating illicit profits that are laundered through cross-border schemes or professional networks. To discuss a co-ordinated...
Strengthening cross-border financial investigation involving digital payments and virtual assets
The rapid growth of digital payment services and virtual assets presents new opportunities and challenges for investigation and prosecution in the Western Balkans Beneficiaries. Over 30 professionals from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia,...
Enhancing public sector integrity and accountability: Practitioners discuss corruption risk assessment approaches
An international workshop, that brought together anti-corruption practitioners from numerous regions, was organised with the aim of enhancing the application of corruption risk mapping and other risk assessment tools in strategy and policy-making. These efforts aim to foster more transparent,...
Countering emerging crime risks linked to innovative technology in financial services in the Western Balkans
In an effort to facilitate the exchange of information at the regional level on managing money laundering and terrorist financing risks associated with innovative technologies in financial services, a regional workshop was organised in Strasbourg with the support of EU and Council of Europe. The...
Tackling environmental crime through addressing related illicit financial flows and corruption in the Western Balkans
A regional conference focusing on the intricate relationship between money laundering, corruption and environmental crimes in the Western Balkans took place in Tirana, Albania. Organised with the support of the EU and the Council of Europe, the 2-days event brought together key stakeholders from...
New Actions against Economic Crime Launched in the Western Balkans and Türkiye
In January 2023, the Council of Europe began the implementation of the third phase of the European Union and Council of Europe Joint Programme ‘Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Türkiye’. The Horizontal Facility is a co-operation modality developed by the Council of Europe and the...