Enhancing social re-use of confiscated assets in Serbia focus of OSCE workshop

On 24 January, the OSCE organized the third national workshop on the social re-use of confiscated assets in Serbia. The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Republic Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime, civil society and other international organizations.

Prosecutors at the workshop emphasized the gravity of fighting organized crime in Serbia and in the region, adding that countries in South-Eastern Europe are highly entrapped from this phenomenon. Participants highlighted that seizing and confiscating criminal assets hurts organized crime groups, and the social re-use of these assets gives back to societies what was stolen from them.

The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss key legislative and practical challenges for the social re-use of criminal assets, as well as how to tackle these challenges. Civil society representatives stated that the lack of clear procedures to apply and receive assets for re-use from the government is a key issue. Moreover, transparency and overview of available assets is required for effective social re-use.

The workshop highlighted the importance of co-operation between civil society and government in fighting organized crime. This activity was organized as part of the Strengthening the fight against transnational organized crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use project, which is financially supported by , Germany, Italy the United Kingdom and the United States.