Given the alarming levels organized crime has reached in South Eastern Europe, Ministers of the Interior or Public Order endorsed a Declaration concerning the fight against organized crime on 18 June 2003 in Sarajevo. The ministerial meeting was organized jointly by the current chair of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the Stability Pact Initiative to Fight Organized Crime (SPOC).

Ahead of any prosecution, SEE countries frequently face major problems in exchanging operational information on criminals who operate throughout the region. Law enforcement authorities on national level are often confronted with limited institutional capacity, inappropriate logistics, inadequately trained staff, outdated equipment, and legislative gaps which prevent them from exchanging sensitive information and personal data with European institutions or EU member states.

This became evident on the first day of the conference, when representatives of the Ministries of Interior or Public Order from SEE gave their country statements on the practical difficulties on fighting organized crime. As a means for much needed capacity building in SEE, the Declaration of 18 June focuses on two topics: efficient data protection and witness protection. However, it also lists other international conventions and obligations SEE countries will strive to comply with and implement in their respective national legislation.

The Sarajevo statement is another significant step to reach targets spelled out in the London Statement on defeating organized crime in Southeastern Europe of 25 November 2002. It will be translated into action in the framework of the Stability Pact Initiative to Fight Organize Crime, SPOC. Countries shall be enabled to enhance their practical cooperation within the SEE region, but equally with relevant EU and other international institutions, such as Interpol and Europol, on an expert level.

The overall objective of the SPOC initiative is to strengthen regional capacities to combat organized crime in accordance with internationally recognized standards. The Initiative focuses on the adoption of policies, strategies and legislation, the development of multi-disciplinary inter-agency co-ordination mechanisms, encouraging the establishment of specialized units and the enhancement of regional and international co-operation.

Sarajevo Declaration / Fight Against Organised Crime / Data and Witness Protection