EMPACT Serbia – Tailor made support by CSC WB

On the 10th of December 2021, the Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans IPA – 2019 Component Leaders for European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), Lieutenant Colonel of the Italian National Police Ana Marinelli and Henrike Klavert of the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) visited the Police Directorate in Belgrade, Serbia where they met with the Working Group on EMPACT. This Working Group is a mechanism that is equivalent to the National EMPACT coordinator in EU Member states.

The meeting served to strengthen the existing cooperation between the beneficiary and the project and devise a more comprehensive plan to offer needs-based and tailor-made support for activities within the EMPACT framework.

The meeting resulted in the agreement that the project will hold a workshop on the various aspects of EMPACT, which the beneficiary has an interest in and stands to benefit the most from. The workshop will be attended by the most relevant actors, who are fully engaged in EMPACT operational activities, from the law enforcement spectrum in Serbia.

The successes achieved so far by Serbia have been impressive in terms of countering organized crime groups and building bonds of lasting cooperation with counterparts throughout the region and Europe whilst the planned activities show that Serbia is an ambitious and committed partner, which is determined to seize opportunities to contribute to common security.