"Whistle for the End" Chișinău Guerrilla Event
2021-06-30 | Chișinău, Europe Square, Central Park, Chișinău, Moldova, Republic of
On the last day of June 2021, a 24-hour performance took place in Chișinău, Moldova. With the event, the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) called the attention of the public not only to the scale of corruption but also to the key role that citizens have in fighting corruption.
Throughout the day, by choosing to press the button and “Whistle for the End!”, the citizens of Chișinău kept symbolically saving public money from ‘destruction’ in front of their eyes.
This is the fifth street performance brought to the streets and squares of the Western Balkans and Moldova’s capitals, as a part of the “Whistle for the end!” educational and information campaign.
The event was opened by Ms. Laura Ștefan, Chairperson of the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative, Mr. Ion Pruteanu, Head of the Anti-corruption Education Division from the General Corruption Prevention Directorate of Republic of Moldova (NAC), as well as youth representatives – Ms. Vlada Șimon, anti-corruption volunteer of NAC and Mr. Valentin Josan, Youth European Ambassadors’ representative in Moldova.

Ms. Laura Ștefan, RAI Chairperson, said: “With this performance, we wanted to draw attention to the damage that corruption causes to society in the Republic of Moldova and to the significant role that every citizen has in the fight against corruption.” By pressing the button, the citizens “Whistled for the End” and in that way symbolically stopped corruption and further waste of their money. This gesture showed how much money together we can save from destruction when we do not accept to participate in corruption. In this way, we sent a message that we are with the whistleblowers – those citizens who, by reporting corruption, make a courageous and selfless decision, putting themselves in the service of the public interest.”
“In the last year, CNA has recognized the status of whistleblowers for 8 persons and maintains a good inter-institutional collaboration with the Office of the People’s Advocate. We are convinced that we are part of a society, that is fully aware of the harmful repercussions of corruption, we are confident in the success of the application and further promotion of the institute of the whistleblower. We urge you to become actively involved in altruism, courage, and civic spirit towards the eradication of corruption”, said Mr. Ion Pruteanu, the Head of the Anticorruption Education Department of the National Anticorruption Center.
Ms. Vlada Șimon, the anti-corruption volunteer of the National Anticorruption Center: “Citizens need to be aware that acting jointly with the state institutions against corruption and the corrupted is effective. Therefore, in order to restore confidence, we, the young people, must take measures to strengthen integrity, promote and strengthen the state’s efforts to prevent the consequences of illicit acts, including corruption, because we believe that the involvement and support of whistleblowers are essential at this time.”
Mr. Valentin Josan, the representative of the Young European Ambassadors, reiterated how essential the involvement of young people in the fight against corruption is: “It is important for us, young people, to be aware of the importance of every word spoken in defense of truth and justice. Every denunciation, even if left with no finality, has its certain impact. In such moments, what really matters is personal integrity and morality. So, let’s break the silence and whistle together for the end of corruption!”

16th Summer School for Junior Anti-corruption Practitioners from South-East Europe
2021-07-05 - 2021-07-07 | Online
RAI Secretariat proudly announces the 16th edition of the Summer School for Junior Anti-corruption Practitioners from South-East Europe. This year’s edition will take place in the period July 5-7, 2021 in an online format.
Summer School Objectives
The overarching objective of the School is to introduce anti-corruption practitioners to emerging typologies in respect of corruption, how offshore jurisdictions are used to launder the proceeds of corruption and what motivates people to engage in corruption.
The School will also seek to raise the awareness of the participants of how human sources of intelligence are utilised in corruption investigations and some of the challenges relating to the use and management of whistleblowers.
All of the presentations are delivered by practitioners for practitioners and therefore the topics are addressed at a level that does not seek to delve into academic theory but are more focused around explanation through case studies that are relevant for prosecutors and investigators.
Style of Learning
The event will be conducted online in English and the participants will be expected to have their cameras and microphones on and engage with the SMEs through a blended learning style. If technically possible, the presentations will be supported with interactive exercises but this will be determined during the event as it is dependent on numbers and the technical limitations of the participants’ IT hardware.
Target audience/Participants
The target audience of the Summer School are junior practitioners from prosecution bodies and anti-corruption bodies with investigative powers.

"Whistle for the End" Belgrade Guerrilla Event
2021-07-08 | Belgrade, Serbia
On July 8, 2021, a 24-hour performance took place in Belgrade, Serbia. With the event, the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) called the attention of the public not only to the scale of corruption but also to the key role that citizens have in fighting corruption.
Throughout the day, by choosing to press the button and “Whistle for the End!”, the citizens of Belgrade kept symbolically saving public money from ‘destruction’ in front of their eyes.
This is the final of seven street performances brought to the streets and squares of the Western Balkans and Moldova’s capitals, as a part of the “Whistle for the end!” educational and information campaign.
The event was opened by Ms. Dejana Grbic-Velagic, Chief Programme and Communications Officer at the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative Secretariat and Mr. Vladimir Radomirovic, National whistleblowing coordinator for Serbia on RAI’s project “Breaking the Silence: enhancing the whistleblowing policies and culture in Western Balkans and Moldova”, funded by the European Union.

Regional Meeting on Mapping Sectors Most Vulnerable to Corruption
2021-07-09 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
After organising bilateral consultations with representatives of all jurisdictions targeted by the SEE-TAC Project, the RAI Secretariat proudly announces a regional meeting on mapping sectors most vulnerable to corruption.
The objective of the meeting is to present findings from bilateral meetings, foster regional consultations and aim to achieve the regional consensus on the two sectors, where the SEE-TAC project interventions will have the highest impact.
The meeting will be held on Friday, July 9, 2021 in an online format.
Following reaching the agreement on the targeted sectors, the SEE-TAC activities will focus on modelling and implementing sectoral approach, which was identified as the appropriate method for strengthening the implementation of Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) and Corruption Proofing of Legislation (CPL) mechanisms in the targeted jurisdictions.
This activity is a part of the regional project titled Southeast Europe – Together Against Corruption (SEE-TAC) jointly implemented by the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
To read more about SEE-TAC, please follow the LINK

36th Regional Session of the European Youth Parliament BiH - Metamorphosis
2021-07-29 08:00 - 2021-08-01 17:30 UTC | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
During Metamorphosis, the 36th Regional Session of EYP BiH, Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) presented a topic building on the protection of whistleblowers and reflecting the European Union Directive on the topic. Check out this video, in which the members of the JURI committee shared their thoughts and opinions about the session and the topic of whistleblowing.

Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and its Review Mechanism
2021-09-20 - 2021-09-22 | Hotel Moskva, Balkanska 1, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia
People in Southeast Europe see corruption as the biggest problem in their countries after unemployment and poverty, saying it hinders economic and social development as well as their country’s European Union accession process.
To answer the calls for strengthening the resilience of societies to corruption in Southeast Europe, UNODC and RAI have launched the joint programme “Southeast Europe – Together Against Corruption (SEE-TAC)” (2020-2023), which is funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation, represented by the Austrian Development Agency.
Under the auspices of the SEE-TAC, the in-person workshop on anti-corruption was organised in Belgrade, Serbia, September 20-22. The workshop brought together 28 civil society, private sector, government representatives from the Western Balkans and Moldova, as well as experts from the UNCAC Coalition and the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative.
During the workshop, participants were given the opportunity to discuss how Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) can be better involved in the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument that promotes the active participation of civil society in the prevention and fight against corruption.
Experts also presented ways for CSOs to actively participate in the UNCAC Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM), which assists States parties to effectively implement the Convention. The workshop also included presentations on corruption-prevention mechanisms and their application in practice, including the presentation of the new regional cooperation instrument – the International Treaty on Exchange of Data for the Verification of Asset Declarations.
Another exceptional characteristic of this workshop is the fact it brings together representatives of the public, civil and private sectors together, providing them with a unique opportunity to establish connections and recognize potential areas of joint action. The means and support for establishing cross-sectoral partnerships in implementing the anti-corruption awareness raining initiatives are also available under the SEE-TAC programme through an active call for applications.
Non-governmental actors can be involved in the UNCAC review process if invited by their government. Workshops such as this one are instrumental in encouraging this participation by building knowledge on UNCAC and creating a platform where participants can engage in a constructive dialogue on its implementation in their respective jurisdictions, share good practices and lessons learned. Through this workshop, the participants had the opportunity to build capacity for reproducing workshop sessions at the national/regional levels and acquired additional expertise in UNCAC provisions required to undergo and perform reviews as well as to address the observations emanating from the reviews.
Katarina Nikolic from the Ministry of Justice Serbia was pleased that the workshop is held in Belgrade for the second time. She highlighted the need for cooperation and raising public awareness that builds a culture where laws are upheld. ‘We stand strong against corruption and together we can defeat it’ – stressed Nikolic.
Françoise Jacob, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Serbia, emphasized that when anti-corruption measures are implemented and monitored, when these processes involve different stakeholders, and they turn into preventive action, we make progress as a society. ‘I found such workshops as of the most powerful tools to exchange information and come to compromises’ – stressed Jacob.
His excellency Ambassador of Austria to Serbia, Nikolaus Lutterotti addressed the audience: ‘we are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, but corruption is another pandemic’ – noting the ongoing corrosive effects of corruption to societies. He further added – ‘we need to ensure that corruption does not go unpunished. But we also know Prevention is better than cure. Training and education are fundamental parts of prevention that’s why the Austrian government, in particular, supports such trainings.’
Desislava Gotskova, Head of RAI Secretariat underlined the importance of regional and cross-sectoral cooperation and joining efforts in implementing anti-corruption activities in the region by saying ‘We find that inclusive implementation brings stronger and more sustained impact for the Southeast European region.’ She also expressed the conviction that regional efforts and activities have an added value in strengthening the national anti-corruption efforts, policies, and strategies, enhancing information exchange, and dissemination of good practices among the peers.
Mirella Dummar-Frahi, Chief of UNODC Civil Society Unit recalled the fact this was the fourth multi-stakeholder event on UNCAC in the SEE region, taking place after a three-year break. ‘This Multi-stakeholder Workshop aims at increasing participants’ understanding on the UN Convention against Corruption and how to effectively contribute to its review process, while also building confidence between the government and civil society to work together in the review.’

35th RAI Steering Group Meeting
2021-10-22 | Online

36th RAI Steering Group Meeting
2021-11-02 - 2021-11-03 | Zagreb, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)

Regional Conference on Effective Recovery of the Proceeds of Crime
2021-11-05 09:00 - 17:00 UTC | Skopje, North Macedonia, Skopje, North Macedonia
AIRE Centre Western Balkans in cooperation with the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) organized Regional Conference on Effective Asset Recovery in Compliance with European Standards in hybrid format. Regional Conference was supported by the Ministry of Justice of North Macedonia and the UK Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (UKCSSF)
The conference is organised within the project “Combating corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery” implemented by AIRE Centre in cooperation with RAI Secretariat, funded by the UK Government.
The keynote speech was delivered by Judge Robert Spano, President of the European Court of Human Rights. and the presentations were also given by judges, prosecutors & representatives of the law schools from Western Balkans.
Ms. Biljana Braithwaite, Director of AIRE Western Balkans Centre in her opening remarks said that asset recovery strengthens public trust in institutions and is an essential aspect of efforts to uphold the rule of law in the region.
The UK Ambassador to the Republic of North Macedonia, Ms. Rachel Galloway expressed her hopes that this conference will result in more practical cooperation at national and international levels between law enforcement agencies to track money laundering and recover stolen assets.
Ms. Desislava Gotskova, Head of RAI Secretariat emphasized commitment of AIRE and RAI, with the support of the UK Government, to work with prominent international experts, judges, prosecutors, and asset recovery practitioners in the SEE to exchange good practice and experience, and to expand their knowledge.
Judge Robert Spano reiterated that corruption threatens the rule of law, democracy and human rights and endangers the stability of democratic institutions and the moral foundations of society.
Over 150 participants in Skopje and online had the opportunity to get better acquainted with the international and regional perspective on asset recovery, through two conference panels focusing on the issues of confiscation of the proceeds of corruption and means of effective fight against illicit finances.

Second Annual Regional Multistakeholder Training on Whistleblower Protection
2021-11-16 08:00 - 2021-11-19 17:00 UTC | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Peer-to-Peer Regional Meeting of Public Institutions for better whistleblower protection, the Second Annual Regional Multi-Beneficiary Training on Whistleblower Protection, and the Annual Meeting of the Southeast Europe Coalition on Whistleblower Protection were held in Sarajevo under the auspices of the regional project ‘Breaking the Silence: Enhancing the whistleblowing policies and culture in Western Balkans and Moldova’, implemented by the RAI Secretariat and financed by the European Union. The four-day event gathered representatives of relevant public institutions and NGOs from the Southeast Europe region. More information about the project can be found at the following LINK.

Anti-corruption Forum
2021-12-06 09:30 - 2021-12-09 18:30 UTC | Tirana, Albania
Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat in partnership with the European Youth Parliament (EYP) in Albania organized and supported the Anti-Corruption Forum that gathered close to 50 youth participants, including EYP Delegates from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
This three-day event was organized in Tirana from December 6-9, 2021, as part of the official program of the Week of Integrity in Albania, that stands as a national awareness-raising campaign where collective action is anticipated as a leverage to draw attention on the importance of integrity and to promote ethical behavior not only in business, but also in the governmental bodies, academia and NGOs.
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Southeast Europe together against corruption - Special event at UNCAC COSP9
2021-12-16 12:30 - 13:30 (Europe/Helsinki) | Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI), in partnership with the UNODC Civil Society Unit (CSU) organized a Special Event during the Ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), on December 16 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
The special event ‘Southeast Europe TOGETHER Against Corruption’ once again emphasized the importance of working together in the fight against corruption. The hybrid event was organized under the auspice of the regional Programme “Southeast Europe – Together Against Corruption (SEE-TAC)” implemented by RAI and the UNODC CSU with the support of the Austrian Development Cooperation.
This special event was a platform for different stakeholders from across the SEE region to engage in meaningful conversation about the best recipes for cooperation and partnerships. The added value of the multi-stakeholder workshops on the UN Convention against Corruption was discussed as well as the exchange of data in asset disclosure and conflict of interest, and other relevant endeavors in the region, which could be replicated and extended to the other parts of the word. Moreover, the panelists presented their successes but also lessons learnt in partnering with peers and other stakeholders in order to achieve common goals.
Moderating the session Desislava Gotskova, Head of RAI Secretariat underlined that it is essential to unite under the idea of ‘togetherness’ when working on anti-corruption initiatives in Southeast Europe.
Momcilo Radulovic, President of the Council of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption Montenegro acknowledged that multi-stakeholder cooperation is essential to counter corruption. “It’s important to have civil society and media next to us and we have listened to NGO advice and implemented their ideas and proposals in our everyday work”, – he said.
Mirella Dummar Frahi, UNODC Chief Civil society unit highlighted the work of her Unit aiming to bring together governments, civil society and the private sector to advance the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). This with the twofold aim of increasing knowledge and building trust among stakeholders. She also referred to the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe, which provides the framework for UNODC initiatives throughout the region.
Representative of civil society – Snezana Kamilovska Trpovska, Programme Officer, Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation, stressed that the fight against corruption as it is not only for the governments but also for citizens. “At the same time, the CSOs should be perceived as one of the main partners” – emphasized Kamilovska Trpovska.
The perspective from private sector was presented by Jovan Nicic, Anti-corruption expert and Director of Prospector d.o.o., who told about their work on the ground level and mentioned the need to take collective action in countering corruption.
Laura Stefan, RAI Chairperson concluded saying that we can only succeed if we mainstream anti-corruption to the public.
Following the discussion with panelists, the audience members also took opportunity to contribute to the dialogue and share their perspectives. It was concluded that collaboration, partnering and cross border cooperation seems to be the best way forward for the region.
Regardless of the field of expertise, sector or country, all stakeholders should work towards a common goal: curbing corruption while partnering with peers. This approach will remain at the core of the ‘Southeast Europe TOGETHER Against Corruption’ programme, running until November 2023.

2nd Regional Coordination Meeting on Asset Recovery
2022-01-21 10:00 - 13:00 UTC
The second Regional Coordination Meeting of Technical Assistance Providers in the field of Asset Recovery took place on Friday, January 21, 2022. The meeting is a part of the regional coordination initiative undertaken under the framework of the Regional Project: Combating Corruption in the Western Balkans: Strengthening regional cooperation in the field of asset recovery implemented by the AIRE Centre and the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, with the support of the United Kingdom Government.
More than 30 technical assistance providers in the field of asset recovery operating in the Western Balkans jurisdictions, as well as representatives of the European Commission – Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiation, recognized the importance of good coordination between donor community, beneficiaries, and implementing partners in ensuring the effectiveness of the programs and projects implemented in the region.
Read more here

Training: Standards and Practice in Asset Recovery
2022-02-07 10:00 - 13:00 UTC
Under the framework of the Regional Project: Combating Corruption in the Western Balkans: Strengthening regional cooperation in the field of asset recovery, AIRE Centre and the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative organised the training on Standards and Practice in Asset Recovery, with the support of the United Kingdom Government.
Training gathered more than 100 judges, prosecutors, judicial associates and judicial academies’ trainees from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia in an online format on February 7, 2022. The objective of the training was to provide participants with essential knowledge on the importance of asset recovery, an overview of relevant jurisprudence, principles of identification and permanent seizure of proceeds of crime, as well as international and domestic standards for the extended asset confiscation.
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Regional Meeting on achieving accurate, comprehensive and standard recording of asset recovery statistics
2022-03-01 09:30 - 17:00 UTC | Pristina, Pristina
The regional meeting on achieving accurate, comprehensive, and standard recording of asset recovery statistics took place in Pristina, on 1 March 2022. The meeting gathered more than 20 experts from the Western Balkans jurisdictions, embodying the start of the effective assessment of asset recovery processes in the Western Balkans, and a step towards sharing experiences and ensuring continuity of accurate data collection and establishing a common system across the region.
At the meeting, the importance of the transparency and completeness of statistics on asset recovery was reiterated, as it they are key in enabling data exchange in the region and proper visibility of the results in this field. The statistics, while highly technical, allow for the establishment of the framework for assessing effectiveness of the fight against organized crime and corruption. Only the accuracy and transparency of the collected data can ensure public confidence and create a framework for securing social benefits resulting from the confiscation of illegally acquired assets.
This meeting was organised under the project “Combating corruption and organized crime in the Western Balkans through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery” implemented by the Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE Centre) in cooperation with the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat, with funding from the United Kingdom government.
The Project started in September 2021 and is based on an extensive needs assessment, consultations with key stakeholders, and the findings available in a series of publications including the AIRE-RAI Report on Effective Implementation of Asset Recovery Measures in the Western Balkans: an overview of a regional monitoring methodology, key benchmarks and case studies of good practice. This report concludes that the only way of ensuring that relevant statistics are accurately collected is to employ one common system across all the agencies involved in sequestration and confiscation.

Training “Effective Asset Recovery: Judicial Perspective”, Tirana, Albania
2022-03-15 08:00 - 16:00 UTC | Tirana, Albania
On March 15, 2022, AIRE Centre and the RAI Secretariat organised the training on “Effective Asset Recovery: Judicial Perspective”. The training brought together twenty judges and prosecutors from Albania, offering them an engaging learning format with the leading regional and UK experts, as trainers.
Ledina Mandija, Lawyer and Lecturer at Tirana University Law Faculty and Epoka University, opened the training by emphasizing the necessity of regional approach and highlighting the importance of the regional network of asset recovery professionals for enabling the comparative analysis, providing experts with relevant resources and ensuring adequate cooperation in the region.
Director of the Magistrate School of the Republic of Albania Arben Rakipi in his opening speech shared information on the implementation of Anti-Mafia Law, Law on Money Laundering and case law examples from Albania.
Professor of the University of Sarajevo, Faculty for Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies, Eldan Mujanovic spoke about the international standards and extended confiscation in the regional practice including the good practice examples.
HH Judge Michael Hopmeier from the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom spoke of the practical challenges and issues that arise in court proceedings related to the money laundering charges.
Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska, Judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of North Macedonia shared important points on human rights standards and asset recovery measures from ECtHR case-law perspective. She also outlined the importance of the role of the knowledgeable judges and the professional example they set for their colleagues.
This training is organised under the framework of the three-year regional project “Combating corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery” which started in September 2021. The project, funded by the UK Government, is covering the following jurisdictions: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The participation of Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova and Romania is ensured through RAI.

* This designation is without prejudice to the positions on status and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

The Annual Alumni Conference of the Southeast Europe Regional Asset Recovery Alumni Network
2022-03-16 08:00 - 16:00 UTC | Tirana, Albania
Today, Tirana was the central point for regional experts’ cooperation in the asset recovery activities, with the Alumni Asset Recovery Practitioners’ Conference gathering over 70 professionals from the Southeast Europe region, as well as the UK experts. The Conference is a part of the project “Combating corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery” implemented by the Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE Centre) in cooperation with the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat, funded by the UK Government.
“Today, we gathered judges, prosecutors and experts from the Western Balkans, as well as their colleagues from other jurisdictions, to discuss regional cooperation in confiscation of the proceeds of crime and tools for its effective implementation. Confiscating the proceeds of crime helps eliminate the greatest incentive for criminal conduct: profit. Facilitating asset recovery in the region is crucial for the long-term, global fight against corruption and organized crime. Further, asset recovery strengthens public trust in institutions and is an essential aspect of efforts to uphold the rule of law in the region”, shared Biljana Braithwaite, Program Director of the AIRE Center for the Western Balkans.
The United Kingdom reaffirmed its strong support for asset recovery activities, with a strong emphasis on regional cooperation. “Asset recovery is a crucial tool in the fight against organised crime and corruption, enabling better security and economic prosperity for citizens. Through the UK-funded regional project delivered by the AIRE Centre, in partnership with the RAI Secretariat, the UK supports strengthened regional and international cooperation to share best practice, track money laundering and recover stolen assets”, added Jason Ivory, Chargé d’Affaires at the British Embassy in Tirana.
Desislava Gotskova, Head of the RAI Secretariat, underlined the importance of confiscation and asset recovery in the fight against organized crime. “The importance of regional cooperation is essential for the effective fight against corruption. Responding to its member states’ priorities, RAI has been active in the field of asset recovery for a number of years, supporting its members’ endeavors to strengthen their capacities for effective confiscation of proceeds of crime. This conference is a vivid example of fostering regional cooperation among the asset recovery practitioners from Southeast Europe together, as the best way forward”, concluded Gotskova.

Budva: Practical Training “Asset Recovery in Legislation and Practice”
2022-03-18 08:00 - 2022-03-19 16:00 UTC | Budva, Budva, Montenegro
The Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE Centre) and the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat organised the Multidisciplinary Training on Confiscation of Assets acquired from Criminal Activity in Budva, Montenegro om March 18 and 19, 2022.
The Training brought together judges and prosecutors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, who engaged in a practical learning format with the leading regional asset recovery experts.
Judge of the Supreme Cassation Court of the Republic of Serbia, Radmila Dragicevic Dicic contextualized legal provisions for confiscation of proceeds of crime in cases from Serbian and regional judicial practice. Professor Eldan Mujanovic from the University of Sarajevo Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology, and Security Studies introduced participants to the international standards for extended confiscation of assets. Milos Soskic, Prosecutor of the Special Prosecutors’ Office of Montenegro focused on identification and confiscation of proceeds of crime from the perspective of financial investigation and cooperation.
During the training, judges and prosecutors have analysed the practical case and have presented their approach on the investigation and the proceeding, in respect to their national legislation. Cases were analysed and presented both from judicial and prosecutorial perspective.

This Training is organised under the framework of the three-year regional project “Combating corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery” which started in September 2021. The project, funded by the UK Government, is covering the following jurisdictions: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The participation of Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova and Romania is ensured through RAI.

* This designation is without prejudice to the positions on status and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

Budva: Youth engagement in fight against corruption
2022-03-31 09:30 - 2022-04-01 15:00 UTC | Budva, Budva, Montenegro
Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat in partnership with the Youth Network of Montenegro (YNM) is delivering the two-day youth event “Youth engagement in fight against corruption” that will gather 30 participants, including youth from political parties and the civil sector.
The general goal of the initiative is to increase the level of information and awareness of young people in Montenegro about the phenomenon of corruption in various spheres of social life, with an emphasis on acquiring the knowledge to recognize and adequately respond to this social phenomenon. The specific goal of the initiative is to present to the young participants of the initiative the decision-making process in the parliamentary committee, with an emphasis on the normative acts in the field of anti-corruption and „whistle-blower” protection.
The youth event will take place in Budva, Montenegro on March 31 – April 1, 2022, in the framework of the EU-funded project “Breaking the Silence: Enhancing Whistleblowing Policies and Culture in the Western Balkans and Moldova”.

Sofia: 37th RAI Steering Group Meeting
2022-04-07 - 2022-04-08 | Sofia, Bulgaria
37th Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Steering Group (SG) Meeting took place on April 7-8, 2022 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Interior and organized by the RAI Secretariat. The meeting was opened by Ms. Tanya Raycheva, Deputy Minister of Interior of Bulgaria and Ms. Laura Stefan, RAI Chairperson.
Ms. Raycheva highlighted that the communication, dialogue and cooperation in the region are key to launching beneficial initiatives at bilateral and multilateral level and to coordinate common anti-corruption activities in Southeastern Europe. She particularly pointed out the role of RAI as a generator of innovative ideas, raising the introduction and use of new tools to prevent and fight corruption such as the Treaty on Exchange of Data for the Verification of Asset Declarations.
RAI Steering Group is the decision-making body of the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative, composed of representatives of its member countries. The objective of the 37th RAI Steering Group Meeting was to plan the upcoming activities and deliberate on the next RAI planning cycle. A particular focus was given to the activities and events to be held in 2022, especially the endeavors related to the International Treaty for Exchange of Data for Verification of Asset Declaration.
At the session dedicated to partnerships, it was talked about the efforts for strengthening cooperation with RAI’s long-standing partners, as well as about expanding cooperation and forging new partnerships. During the session, the SG had an opportunity to exchange views with the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) on behalf of SELDI Network, Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Civil Society Unit.
Related documents:
Agenda
Summary and Conclusions

Tirana: Training for Higher Education and Public Enterprises Sector on CRA and CPL
2022-05-12 09:00 - 2022-05-13 17:00 UTC | Hotel Plaza, Rruga Abdi Toptani 18, Tirana, Albania
Agenda May 12 and 13_Tirana

Skopje: International Whistleblower Day
2022-05-12 09:45 - 2022-05-13 18:00 UTC | Skopje, North Macedonia, Skopje, North Macedonia
The next national youth event promoting whistleblowing is scheduled to take place in Skopje, North Macedonia (12-13 May, 2022) as part of the Whistleblower Day celebration event. To maximize the advocacy impact of the event, RAI partnered with SEE Coalition on Whistleblower Protection and its Macedonian member organization SCOOP, as well as Youth Education Forum. On Day 1, the event will gather together representatives of public institutions, academia, CSOs, media and international community to celebrate whistleblowing and whistleblowers through discussion of whistleblower protection challenges, and ways to overcome them. On the first day, an award ceremony for journalists will be organized as well. On Day 2, youth will celebrate whistleblowers through a series of Ted-like talks and presentations to be delivered by RAI Secretariat experts and an international expert (Gerard Ryle), a Macedonian journalist and a whistleblower. During the reporting period, RAI Project Team worked with CSO partners on the concept and agenda of the event, securing speakers for the event, inviting participants and similar.
Draft agenda DAY 1
Draft Agenda DAY 2

Rakitje: Regional Workshop on Promoting Integrity in the Security Sector: Whistleblowing
2022-05-18 - 2022-05-19 | Rakitje, Croatia, Rakitje, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
A two-day Regional Workshop on Promoting Integrity in the Security Sector: Whistleblowing is taking place in Rakitje, Croatia on 18-19 May 2022. The workshop is organized in partnership with the RACVIAC-Centre for Security Cooperation. The overall objective of the Workshop is to equip relevant parties in the Security Sector with practical knowledge in implementation of safe disclosure channels and effective protection of the persons reporting corruption through comparative case-law.
The Workshop was opened by MG (ret.) Jeronim Bazo, Director of RACVIAC and Ms. Desislava Gotskova, Head of Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat. Director Bazo, in his introductory speech stated: “This Workshop is an excellent opportunity for the further development of regional cooperation on institutional integrity and fighting corruption through exchange of information and sharing of best practices. He also complimented and thanked RAI for the outstanding #cooperation as well as excellent topics and speakers.
Ms. Desislava Gotskova, Head of RAI Secretariat, looked back on the longstanding and excellent cooperation with RACVIAC. “Together we have been organizing many conferences, and Annual Regional Workshops on the specific anti-corruption and integrity topics, applying a multidisciplinary approach with special focus on leadership commitment as a prerequisite for promoting public confidence and trust in the security sector. “ She wished the participants a very successful workshop, productive and open discussions, and a nice stay in Croatia. Ms. Gotskova concluded her remarks by stating that RAI is looking forward to reinforcing the cooperation with RACVIAC in specific thematic fields where we could work together for strengthening regional cooperation on security sector governance, building integrity and fighting corruption.
The Workshop gathered more than 30 professionals from the region who manage whistleblowing cases and implement whistleblowing policies at the national level. Participants are expected to be proactive in delivering and deliberating on case studies.

Sarajevo: Training for Higher Education and Public Enterprises Sector on CRA and CPL
2022-05-26 09:00 - 2022-05-27 17:00 UTC

Sarajevo: Masterclass - From silence to action!
2022-06-07 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat is pleased to announce its upcoming Masterclass – From silence to action!, a workshop on how to run successful public awareness campaigns, that will take place on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 in Sarajevo.

Belgrade: Masterclass - From silence to action!
2022-06-09 | Belgrade, Serbia
The Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat is pleased to announce its upcoming Masterclass – From silence to action!, a workshop on how to run successful public awareness campaigns, that will take place on Thursday, June 9, 2022 in Belgrade.

Online seminar on the ECtHR jurisprudence in the matters of confiscation of property acquired by criminal activity
2022-06-09 14:30 - 16:30 UTC
Online Seminar on the ECtHR jurisprudence in the matters of confiscation of property acquired by criminal activity will be held on June 9, 2022, from 14.30-16.30. The seminar is intended for judges, prosecutors, and trainees of the Judicial Academies and Judicial Training Institutes in the Western Balkans jurisdictions.
The seminar will be delivered by Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska, Judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of North Macedonia, former Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, and by Radmila Dragicevic Dicic, Judge of Supreme Court of Cassation of the Republic of Serbia.
Simultaneous interpretation in Albanian, Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian, Macedonian and English will be provided at the online seminar.
The seminar is organised under the regional project “Combating corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery”, implemented by the AIRE Centre in partnership with the RAI Secretariat, and funded by the UK Government.

Meeting on achieving accurate, comprehensive and standard recording of asset recovery statistics
2022-06-13 - 2022-06-14 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE) Centre in partnership with the Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat have organized the Meeting on achieving accurate, comprehensive and standard recording of asset recovery statistics in cooperation with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 13 and 14 June 2022.
The regional Meeting on achieving accurate, comprehensive and standard recording of asset recovery statistics was held in Sarajevo today. The meeting brought together directors of asset management agencies, judges and prosecutors from Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a focus on presenting good practices in accessing adequate data monitoring and recording information on this issue.
The Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative and the AIRE Centre Western Balkans Program, as part of a regional cooperation project aiming to achieve more efficient confiscation and management of criminal assets, supported by the UK Government, brought together experts in more efficient recording and statistics of confiscated assets. “Recognizing what we can do together in the region, how to connect practitioners from the North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, and what the Bosnia and Herzegovina as a host country can present and offer as examples of good practice”, said Nevena Kostic, AIRE Centre’s project manager.
Representatives of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH presented the legislative model governing the generation, collection and distribution of statistics on confiscation of illegally acquired property in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and IT solutions in the judiciary that facilitate the collection and distribution of statistics.
Read more here.

Podgorica: Training for Higher Education and Public Enterprises Sector on CRA and CPL
2022-06-23 09:00 - 2022-06-24 17:00 UTC

The 3rd Asset Recovery Technical Assistance Providers Coordination Meeting
2022-06-29 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Belgrade, Serbia
“Without confiscation of property, there is no fight against crime” was a clear message of the 3rd Asset Recovery Technical Assistance Providers Coordination Meeting held in Belgrade today, which gathered representatives of EUROPOL, OSCE, EU Delegations in the region, UNODC, UNDP as well as technical assistance providers involved in the asset recovery reform in the region.
The meeting is a part of the regional coordination initiative undertaken under the framework of the Regional Project: Combating Corruption in the Western Balkans: Strengthening regional cooperation in the field of asset recovery implemented by the AIRE Centre and the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, with the support of the United Kingdom Government.
The meeting had several objectives, including fostering coordination between the existing and the new asset recovery projects in the region with the view of avoiding duplication of efforts, as well as determining potential areas for collaboration amongst the existing and future endeavors.
Participants shared information about their current and future projects in the Western Balkans, jointly identified gaps in assistance through discussion, and shared lessons learned aiming to pinpoint the most common obstacles for the effective provision of technical assistance as well as ideas how to mitigate them.
Read more about Asset Recovery Technical Assistance Providers Coordination meetings:
Regional Donor Coordination Meeting organised by AIRE Centre and RAI Secretariat
2nd Regional Coordination Meeting of Asset Recovery Technical Assistance Providers in the Western Balkans
The 3rd Asset Recovery Technical Assistance Providers Coordination Meeting held in Belgrade
