SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE Regional Center for Combating Transborder Crime

1. SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COOPERATIVE INITIATIVERegional Center for Combating Transborder Crime SECI Center: A Powerful Regional Tool for Combating Organized Crime International Conference: “The Contribution of Data Exchange Systems to the Fight against Organized Crime in the SEE Countries: An Assessment” Torino, 15th of November, 2004

2. History • In April 1998, at the meeting in Geneva, the SECI Agenda Committee adopted a Romanian proposal for establishment of the Regional Center in Bucharest; • First negotiation meeting among the member countries in May, 1998 - representatives from customs and police • On May, 26, 1999 signing the Agreement on Cooperation to Prevent and Combat Trans-border crime • June 1999 - October 2000 - process of ratification of the Agreement • November 2000 - official nomination of the Center as an International legal entity

3. 12 Member countries Albania Bosnia Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece Hungary Moldova FYRO Macedonia Romania Serbia Montenegro Slovenia Turkey

4. Observers to SECI Center Countries: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America International Institutions: International Organization for Migration (IOM), European Institute for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EULEC), International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the United Nations Police Mission in Kosovo (UNMiK), the Stability Pact Organized Crime Secretariat (SPOC).

5. International Partnerships Memoranda of Understanding signed with: • International Organization for Migration (IOM) • European Institute for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EULEC) • International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) • Stability Pact – SPOC Secretariat Agreement with Central European Initiative (CEI) Agreement on Communication connectivity for exchange of information with INTERPOL Agreement on Cooperation withSouth Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC)

6. Permanent advisors • ICPO INTERPOL – for Police-related matters • World Customs Organization – for Customs related issues

7. Liaison officers • Liaison officers – core elements for accomplishing our tasks • Seconded by the member states • Current number of Liaison Officers is 19 (10 police and 9 customs) • Our goal: all 24 positions filled in

8. INFORMATON EXCHANGE

9. National Focal Points NFP Albania NFP Serbia& Montenegro NFP Turkey NFP Slovenia NFP Bosnia& Herzegovina SECI Regional Center NFP Bulgaria NFP Romania NFP Croatia NFP FYR Macedonia NFP Greece NFP Hungary NFP Moldova

10. Task Forces • TF on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration • TF on Combating Trafficking in Drugs • TF on Combating Financial and Computer Crime • Anti-Fraud & Anti-Smuggling TF • TF on Stolen Vehicles • Anti-Terrorism TF • SALW • WMD • Terrorist Groups

11. The THB Task Force • Established in 2000 • Coordinated by Romania • Active cooperation with U.S. Agencies, such as FBI, Department of Homeland Security, as well as international organizations and institutions: the International Organization for Migration (IOM), he International Center for Migration Policy Development, OSCE, INTERPOL, EUROPOL, and the Stability Pact Task Force of Trafficking in Human Beings

12. MIRAGE 2003

13. MIRAGE 2004

14. Movements of witnesses • One successful case of cooperation with Bosnia & Herzegovina • The case involved two Romanian witnesses who testified in front of international prosecutor • SECI Center provided transportation and protection for one witness • First time when a witness travelled from abroad and testified during a trial in Bosnia and Herzegovina • Trafficker sentenced to 9 years in prison

15. Containment 2002 Seizures

16. Containment 2003 Seizures

17. SAFE HEAVEN 2004 SEIZURES

18. ROAD SHOW 2003

19. The Anti-Terrorism Task Force • established in 2003 • It includes three sub-projects: • TF on Small Arms an Light Weapons (SALW) • TF on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMS) • TF on Anti-Terrorism which are led by Albania, Romania and Turkey, respectively

20. Cooperation with Judicial Authorities • Cooperation between law enforcement and judicial authorities – essential for an efficient fight against transborder crime • South East European Prosecutors’ Advisory Group (SEEPAG) established in 2003 • Working groups to be set up in the near future in order to implement better legal solutions

21. Sharing our experience • 2003 – assistance program to the GUUAM project, based on the USA proposal • SECI Center provided technical assistance and expertise for the future establishment of the GUUAM Virtual Center (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova)

22. European Commission assessment • Proposal submitted by European Commission – assessment of the SECI Center: current and potential greater regional role in the region • May 4-6, 2004 – EC delegation visited the Center • Delegation held successive meetings with Management and LOs, to learn more about the goals and operational activities of the Center, the IT infrastructure and data protection issues

23. European Commission assessment (II) • During the 19th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee, the SECI Center adopted a resolution for implementing the recommendations expressed by the EC assessment report • European Union will provide support to develop short, medium and long term measures within the activities of the SECI Center

24. SECI REGIONAL CENTER FOR COMBATING TRANSBORDER CRIME • SECI Regional Center – an efficient tool, having the experience and operational means to contribute to the prevention of regional and global transborder crimes • Ultimate goal: create an active and sustainable partnership with all related actors, by increasing regional and international cooperation, in order to provide a safer environment For further information, please visit www.secicenter.org