Fighting Organized Crime and Terrorism in South Eastern Europe
Under the impact of the dynamic public debates on the new national security strategy, a two days conference focused on Fighting Terrorism and Organized Crime in South Eastern Europe was organized by the SECI - Regional Center for Combating Transborder Crime, with the support of the Department of National Security/Romanian Presidency and EURISC Foundation, on 2-3 March in the city of Sinaia, Romania.
Highly qualified experts from the European Union (EU), NATO and United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as from Austria, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America and Romania, alongside with representatives of relevant universities and research centers, attending the Working Group, have tried to put together their efforts aiming to identify the appropriate and feasible measures to be undertaken by the South East European (SEE) countries, in order to increase the fighting terrorism and organized crime’s effectiveness and efficiency.
Recommendations issued by the Working Group include both conceptual developments and practical measures for further cooperation aimed at a more proactive strategy against organized crime and terrorism, based on enhanced intelligence and shared information, knowledge and professional expertise.
Establishing the region’s standard for storing, sharing and communicating data and intelligence, improving upon border management system, in cooperation with the relevant EU’s bodies and other countries, implementing proactive, protective and monitoring measures against IT crimes and the abuse of Internet by organized crime and terrorist organizations, as well as establishing a SEE program for an early warning system and creating a comprehensive and secure quick alert system in fighting organized crime and terrorism are just a few of the measures the experts focused upon.
Due to its geographical position, South Eastern Europe is a transit area for organized crime networks and their related activities, therefore it can be a launching point for criminal activities; terrorist activities, including some operating in this region, could profit from these crimes. Given the transnational nature of these activities, national officials should increasingly use the already existing regional organizations (such as the SECI Center) for tackling the challenges and to look for common, regionally adjusted solutions.
Decision making officials from member and observer countries will be invited to evaluate the document generated by this Working Group and – if might be appropriate – to use this in the process of formulating the national and regional strategies aiming at enhancing the fight against terrorism and organized crime in the region.
Highly qualified experts from the European Union (EU), NATO and United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as from Austria, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America and Romania, alongside with representatives of relevant universities and research centers, attending the Working Group, have tried to put together their efforts aiming to identify the appropriate and feasible measures to be undertaken by the South East European (SEE) countries, in order to increase the fighting terrorism and organized crime’s effectiveness and efficiency.
Recommendations issued by the Working Group include both conceptual developments and practical measures for further cooperation aimed at a more proactive strategy against organized crime and terrorism, based on enhanced intelligence and shared information, knowledge and professional expertise.
Establishing the region’s standard for storing, sharing and communicating data and intelligence, improving upon border management system, in cooperation with the relevant EU’s bodies and other countries, implementing proactive, protective and monitoring measures against IT crimes and the abuse of Internet by organized crime and terrorist organizations, as well as establishing a SEE program for an early warning system and creating a comprehensive and secure quick alert system in fighting organized crime and terrorism are just a few of the measures the experts focused upon.
Due to its geographical position, South Eastern Europe is a transit area for organized crime networks and their related activities, therefore it can be a launching point for criminal activities; terrorist activities, including some operating in this region, could profit from these crimes. Given the transnational nature of these activities, national officials should increasingly use the already existing regional organizations (such as the SECI Center) for tackling the challenges and to look for common, regionally adjusted solutions.
Decision making officials from member and observer countries will be invited to evaluate the document generated by this Working Group and – if might be appropriate – to use this in the process of formulating the national and regional strategies aiming at enhancing the fight against terrorism and organized crime in the region.
11 November 2008 - 12 November 2008
Recently updated
