Study visit of the BA National CP for Cooperation with Europol to Italy

The regional project Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans has been involved in the realization of the National/Joint Contact Point for cooperation with EUROPOL for Bosnia and Herzegovina. In preparation of the fully functionality of this pivotal office the EU Delegation of BiH recently organised a study visit for the officers in charge to work in that National contact point, with the support of the CSCWB Project.

The BA delegation visited the Italian International Police Cooperation Service, the central hub for the exchange of information for Italy. The purpose of the visit was to enrich their experiences in the workflow of the Italian International Police Cooperation Service in matters related to Single Point of Contact.

The delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which consists of different agencies, was able to draw on positive and practical experiences that the Italian colleagues selflessly shared with their colleagues from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The colleagues also had fruitful discussion in the exchange of practices related to the work with EMPACT, JADs and the role of the National EMPACT Coordinator.

On that occasion the delegation visited the International Operations Room of the Italian International Police Cooperation Service, the API/PNR Control Room of the General Directorate of Criminal Police, the EUROPOL National Unit and Interpol Offices within IT MOI premises.

The regional project Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans, which is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Italian Ministry of Interior and the Centre for International Legal Cooperation (CILC), co-financed by the European Commission (DG NEAR), the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development German Government (BMZ) and the Italian Ministry of Interior. The main objective is to strengthen the cross-border cooperation to counter serious and organised crime in the Western Balkans with institutions and networks of the EU.