Connections between EPPO and the Western Balkans strengthened

One of the aims of the project ‘Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans -IPA2019’, which will be completed on 31 December 2023, is to strengthen the connections between prosecution offices and law enforcement bodies in the countries of the Western Balkans on the one side and the respective European agencies and bodies on the other side.

For many years, cooperation with EUROJUST, EUROPOL, the European Judicial Network and CEPOL has been supported. As of 1 June 2021, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) started its operations with four out of the six Western Balkans, working arrangements between the EPPO and the respective prosecution offices were already signed. The latest ones with Bosnia and Herzegovina on 21 November 2023.

In order to disseminate a better understanding of the structure and tasks of the EPPO, as well as its cooperation with the Western Balkans prosecution services, a seminar was organized in Podgorica on 27 and 28 November 2023. In the two-day seminar various topics were presented by two European Prosecutors and three European Delegated Prosecutors from Croatia and Romania, as well as staff from the EPPO main office in Luxembourg, followed by lively discussions and questions.

The project ‘Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans – IPA2019’ sincerely thanks the colleagues from EPPO and of course also the leadership of EPPO to make this seminar happen.