OSCE and US OPDAT deliver workshop on advanced regional asset recovery in South-Eastern Europe

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and the United States Department of Justice, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (US OPDAT) facilitated an advanced interactive workshop for prosecutors and judges from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia on recovery of illicit assets, including cross-border organized crime cases. Prosecutors and judges from Kosovo also attended.

The participants of the three-day workshop, held in Dubrovnik from 7 to 9 November, exchanged good practices, analyzed challenges related to procedural mechanisms in different jurisdictions, and examined case scenarios. They also discussed third-party interests in seizure and confiscation, conviction and non-conviction-based confiscation, extended confiscation, international co-operation, and seizure and confiscation of virtual assets. Extensive experience in handling seizure and confiscation and illicit asset recovery cases was required of all participants.

Asset recovery is recognized as an effective tool in fighting organized crime and corruption. However, due to the complex nature of transnational organized crime and corruption cases, applying asset recovery provisions can be a challenging task. Discussions among justice practitioners at the regional level are therefore key to strengthen the cross-border co-operation and ensure exchange on any legal novelties and good practices.

The OSCE supported the organization of the regional event under the extra-budgetary project “Strengthening Asset Recovery Efforts in the OSCE Region”, financially supported by Austria, Germany, Italy and the United States.