BIH PROSECUTORS AND INVESTIGATORS VISIT THE EUROPEAN PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office shows commitment to working with the competent authorities of EU candidate countries

Luxembourg, 21 March 2024 - A group of prosecutors and investigators from the Special Department for Organised Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (POBiH) visited the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). The enhanced cooperation between the two institutions demonstrates their dedication to combating high-level crimes and ultimately bringing criminals before justice, especially in cases of international and cross-border crime.

‘We have exchanged experiences with our colleagues and enhanced our cooperation based on a working arrangement between the EPPO and the POBiH that was signed in November 2023 by the European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Codruța Kövesi, and the Chief Prosecutor of the POBiH, Milanko Kajganić. This will ensure the effective investigation and prosecution of financial crimes, including those affecting the EU budget,’ emphasized Mladen Furtula, prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH.

The meeting was organised within the EU4Justice Project, Phase II, which is implemented through the financial support of the European Union with the aim of harmonising the judicial system of BiH with European standards. Participants discussed cooperation between the EPPO and authorities from non-EU countries. Sharing the successful Case Studies on investigation strategies and lessons learned were also part of the meeting, and a special focus was on the topics of money laundering investigation and asset recovery investigations of financial crimes, best practices, trends, and links with organised crime groups.

‘The project will continue to support the justice institutions in BiH to increase their capacities and to enhance the country’s response to organised crime and corruption,’ said Mika Aalto, component leader within the EU4Justice project assisting the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH.

The EPPO is an independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to judgment the crimes against the financial interests of the EU.

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