OSCE-supported project on asset seizure, management and re-use in fight against organized crime and corruption in South-Eastern Europe continues

The Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) Steering Group held an online meeting, supported by the OSCE, on 3 June 2020.

The participants discussed the BAMIN 2020 plan and ways in which the Network could adapt and maintain full operationalization under the new challenging conditions.

While many of the activities have been affected by the current circumstances, the Network continues active internal and external co-operation. Romania will be joining BAMIN as an observer state. Georgia and Armenia also expressed interest in the Network and are exploring possibilities for close co-operation.

Denise Mazzolani, Deputy Head of the Strategic Police Matters Unit (TNTD), and Iris Pilika, Programme Officer, Economic Co-operation and Governance (OCEEA), who attended the meeting, commended BAMIN for keeping the Network active and open for other interested OSCE participating States for co-operation.

They presented the activities the OSCE is carrying out to help the participating States fight organized crime and corruption through effectively managing assets seized from organized crime and corruption cases.

Following the meeting, a workshop on managing crypto assets was held. The workshop offered an insight into their management through operational case studies.

The participants discussed how to harmonize the management of crypto assets across BAMIN jurisdictions and advanced crypto assets for BAMIN Practitioners. The workshop was open to all BAMIN members, observer and associate states.

The OSCE supports BAMIN through the extra-budgetary project “Strengthening the fight against transnational crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use.”

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) are implementing the project. The cross-dimensional initiative adopts a comprehensive approach by providing support during the entire cycle of asset seizure, management and re-use.

The project is financially supported by the U.S. Department of State, Italy and Germany.