The EU Support to Law Enforcement Project presented a set of minimum legal standards in the field of seizure of illegally gained assets in BiH at the Conference “Assets Seizure as Instrument in Fight against Crime” held today in Sarajevo. The set of minimum standards is the result of the Working Group formed by the Project, which utilized knowledge and experience of police officials, prosecutors, judges, representatives of the Ministries of Justice and academic community in BiH.

The adoption of these amendments would harmonise legal provisions at all levels in BiH.

“We strongly believe that translating these minimum legal standards into existing and new legislation is necessary to develop effective asset recovery structures throughout the country,“ said Brigitte Kuchar, Programme Manager of the EU Delegation to BiH.

Harmonisation of legal provisions will prevent different interpretations of this legal institute and inconsistent application of procedures for financial investigations and seizure of illegally gained assets in BiH. “Furthermore, It will remove obstacles for cooperation between police, prosecutors and courts in BiH and enhance possiblities for the international cooperation,“ said Karl Lesjak, Project Team Leader.
 
Mladen Ćavar, Deputy Minister of Security of BiH, noted that the overall fight against organized crime represents one of the top priorities but also challenges for the security system in BiH.

„Successful fight against crime is one of the main preconditions and criteria for the accession to the European Union and NATO. Seizure of illegally gained assets is the most efficient tool in the fight against all forms of crime which is a clear message to all those involved in illegal activities that the crime does not pay off “, concluded Ćavar.

Once harmonised, the issue of seizure of illegally gained assets in BiH will be in line with the draft Directive of the European Commission on Freezing and confiscation of proceeds of crime from March 2012.

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The EU Support to Law Enforcement Project is funded by the EU in the amount of 7 Million EUR, from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA 2010). The project has started on 2 May 2012 and it will continue until 30 April 2014. The project consortium partners include the Ministries of Interior of the Republic of Austria, Republic of Slovenia, Hungary and of the Land Brandenburg of the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and Transparency International BiH (as an Associate). Beneficiary partners are BiH law enforcement agencies at state, entity, cantonal and Brčko District level.

Please read: Remarks by Brigitee Kuchar, EUD Programme Manager, at the Conference “Assets Seizure as Instrument in Fight against Crime”