Organized Crime

Sarajevo Declaration of the Ministers of Justice and State Representatives from South Eastern Europe ("Sarajevo II") concerning the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime

Conference of the Ministers of Justice and State Representatives from the SEE Region
Practical Follow Up on Defeating Organized Crime: Palermo, London, Thessaloniki
SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN COOPERATION PROCESS - SEECP STABILITY PACT FOR SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE / INITIATIVE TO FIGHT ORGANIZED CRIME- SPOC
28 October 2003, Sarajevo

Reaffirming the 16 June 2003 Sarajevo Declaration of the Ministers of Interior or Public Order and State Representatives from South Eastern Europe concerning the fight against organized crime, regarding in particular data protection and processing, as well as witness protection,

Welcoming the 5 December 2000 United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, which entered into force on 29 September 2003 (Palermo TOC),

Calling on the parties that have not yet ratified the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its three Protocols to do so,

Wishing to contribute to the early implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its three Protocols,

Recalling the London Statement on Defeating Organized Crime in South Eastern Europe of 25 November 2002, and other relevant international efforts to defeat organized crime,

Conscious of the Thessaloniki EU-Western Balkans Summit Declaration from 21 June 2003,

Acknowledging that the Stabilization and Association process (SAP) will remain the framework for the European course of the Western Balkan countries, all the way to their future accession,

Being aware, within the framework of the Stability Pact, of the Accession Process regarding Bulgaria and Romania,

Bearing in mind the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the Republic of Moldova,

Determined to fight organized crime through enhanced regional cooperation,

Conscious of the need to achieve legal harmonization regarding the processing and protecting of data, and the protection of witnesses in SEE, to facilitate the work of local law enforcement agencies and the judiciary,

Seeking to enhance regional cooperation, through promoting judicial networking and mutual legal assistance,

Seeking to enhance the cooperation between the region and EUROJUST concerning mutual legal assistance and judicial co-operation,

Seeking to facilitate the way for future data processing between regional and European institutions such as EUROPOL,

Understanding that this Declaration does not preclude or affect any bilateral or multilateral agreements currently in force or subsequently concluded,

Inviting the parties to make use of and participate in upcoming projects in the framework of the Stability Pact Initiative to fight Organized Crime (SPOC),

The present Government Ministers of Justice and State Representatives from South Eastern Europe, have agreed on the following:

1. To reaffirm the importance of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its three Protocols and to recommend the early ratification of those instruments by those parties that have not yet ratified;
2. To work towards the early and full implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its three protocols;
3. To create the appropriate institutional framework for the enforcement of the required legislation in accordance with the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and to provide the necessary infrastructure;
4. To criminalize those major offences committed by organized criminal groups mentioned in the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, including corruption and corporate or company offences;
5. To provide the necessary legal instruments and technical conditions to thwart money-laundering and to confiscate the proceeds of crime;
6. To work towards bilateral agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance, and to encourage interregional cooperation, particularly among the respective judicial authorities and police forces.
7. To initiate legislation and programs related to protection of witnesses and victims of trafficking testifying against organized criminal groups; and to encourage witnesses and keep them safe from possible retaliation in line with EU and internationally recognized standards;
8. To share expertise and best practices on the implementation of protection and processing of personal data with those countries that already have legislation corresponding to EU standards, as well as to finalize the process of ratification, for the countries who did not;
9. To ensure that police, customs, judges and prosecutors are adequately trained to investigate, prosecute and sentence members of organized criminal groups;
10. To develop national and regional strategies to prevent organized crime;
11. To strengthen the legislative process, and encourage close cooperation between the parliaments of the region, particularly between respective parliamentary committees for justice and home affairs.