Important steps in the fight against transborder crime
BUCHAREST, November 28th -- Focus on trans-border organized crime groups by supporting more joint investigations among the member countries is the main target of SECI Regional Center for 2008. The operational activity will be supported by a stronger legal department of the SECI Center, due to the integration of the SPOC Secretariat - Stability Pact Initiative against Organized Crime. In the same time, the SECI Center has a new ally: Israel received the permanent observer status. These are the main conclusions of the 26th Joint Cooperation Committee meeting, held in Bucharest. The JCC has also revised and adopted a series of documents that will lead to a better activity in the fight against transborder crime in the region, as underlined by the JCC Chairman, Dr. Janos Nagy: A regional way of thinking means recognition of the importance of regional assistance practiced by the stake holders agencies. We have defined our regional priorities and we are all working hard to meet our requirements. As a result the SECICenter is becoming more and more a regional organization embracing more and more sub regions, thus exceeding our former capacity limits.
The Action Plan for 2008, approved by the highest decision body of the SECI Center, is oriented on an increase of information exchange, an improved activity of the Task Forces within the SECI Center and on a tighter relationship with partner institutions and international organizations.
Dr. Erhard Busek, Special Coordinator for SECI and Stability Pact underlined during the JCC meeting the role of the SECICenter as the only regional tool for law enforcement cooperation in Southeast Europe. As one of the founders of this Center I am a strong supporter of its activities and I am happy to see that we have now achieved a new phase in linking it to EU structure, Dr. Busek added.
The SECIRegionalCenter is a dynamic organization which is always adjusting its approach and methods according to the changes in the region. At every JCC meeting, due to the decisions taken, we are making important steps in the fight against transborder crime. We have the advantage of a very good collaboration between police and customs representatives, from both EU and non EU countries., Mitja Mocnik, director of the SECI Center declared.
The SECI Regional Center for Combating Transborder Crime launched in 2000 and headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, is a unique operation organization which reunites police and customs liaison officers from the 12 member states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey) who work together in direct cooperation.
Israel, the newest observer state, joins Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, The United States of America and the three observer organizations: EUBAM, UNDP Romania and UNMIK.
Italy and the United States have maintained a permanent representation at the SECI Center, while Interpol and World Customs Organization are permanent advisors to the SECI Center.
