The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat successfully organized the 19th Edition of the Summer School for Junior Anti-Corruption Practitioners from Southeast Europe (SEE) in Bucharest, Romania, from June 11-14, 2024. This year’s edition, titled “Unveiling Corruption: Introduction to Asset Recovery and Financial Investigation Techniques,” aimed to equip junior prosecutors, anti-corruption practitioners, and financial investigators from law enforcement agencies across SEE with the essential knowledge and expertise in asset recovery. This year’s program hosted 20 participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Ukraine, reflecting a diverse and dynamic cohort.
The 19th Edition of the Summer School was hosted by the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC) and financially supported by the Central European Initiative (CEI) and America for Bulgaria Foundation.
Speaking at the opening, Ms. Desislava Gotskova, Head of RAI Secretariat, emphasized that the Summer School aims to enhance and strengthen the capacities of anti-corruption bodies in the region and to provide a platform for young practitioners to learn, share knowledge and experience, and network with colleagues from the region. Ms. Gotskova expressed gratitude to the Central European Initiative (CEI) for co-funding the RAI Summer School for the third consecutive year as well as to the Sotheat European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC) for providing RAI with the opportunity to use the SELEC excellent training center.
Wishing everyone a fruitful week of training and professional success when back to their countries, Mr. Ugo Poli, CEI Focal Point Anti-Corruption, noted that CEI Plan of Action always addressed great attention to strengthening the institutional capacity and effective tools to fight corruption in the CEI Member States as a key element to pursue the goal of good governance and to match the milestones of the accession to the European Union.
Finally, Mr. Oguz Serkant Akin, SELEC Director General said that RAI Summer School is a good opportunity to provide the junior anticorruption practitioners from the SEE region with an overview of the current financial investigation and asset recovery landscape as well as to share the SELEC experience in this field. Furthermore, this initiative aims to enhance and deepen the cooperation between RAI and SELEC, contributing to the achievement of shared objectives.
Esteemed experts from AML Consulting Global played a crucial role by providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the current financial investigation and asset recovery landscape. Their sessions covered international best practices in investigating and prosecuting corruption-related offenses, current money laundering typologies, and cutting-edge investigative techniques.
In addition to technical knowledge, participants received essential insights into critical thinking and Emotional Intelligence (EI). These sessions aimed to improve their effectiveness in both personal and professional spheres, equipping them with the foundational skills and mindset necessary to apply critical thinking in various scenarios.
The regional approach of the Summer School fostered valuable partnerships and networking opportunities among participants, which will be beneficial throughout their careers. Delivered in an engaging and interactive format, the program allowed participants to delve into various domains, gaining practical skills for self-improvement and interpersonal relations.
A significant portion of the school focused on practical application. Using AML Consulting Global Ltd’s View360Global immersive platform, trainers simulated an anti-corruption investigation, challenging participants to apply their skills and knowledge to make strategic and tactical decisions. These practical sessions encouraged strategic thinking, dialogue, and teamwork, fostering a collaborative environment among participants from across the region.
Upon completion of the program, participants obtained the RAI Summer School Certificate of Attendance as well as the UK Skills for Justice (SFJ) Accreditation. SFJ-accredited training ensures that the recipients have undergone a program of learning that has been independently assessed and quality assured by the SFJ Panel, applying stringent academic standards to the design and learning objectives.
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative Summer School continues to be an important event in fostering the next generation of anti-corruption leaders in Southeast Europe, combining theoretical training with practical, real-world applications to create a lasting impact on the fight against corruption.
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