On June 10 and 11, 2024, representatives from BAMIN Member jurisdictions of North Macedonia and the Republic of Moldova, along with the BAMIN Secretariat, gathered at the AGRASC offices in Paris at the invitation of the Director General. The purpose of the meeting was to explore future operational and strategic collaboration between AGRASC and BAMIN members.
Representatives from the Moldova Anti-Corruption Centre (CARA), and the North Macedonia Agency for the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AMSCA), along with the Director of AGRASC, discussed the challenges and experiences in operating an asset management agency, including institutional frameworks and agency financing. Moreover, the involved Agencies shared their practices in managing movable assets such as vehicles, cash, precious metals, and cryptocurrency.
In a special session, the French Plate-Forme D’Identification Des Avoirs Criminels (PIAC) and the French law enforcement Asset Recovery Office (ARO), joined the meeting to discuss financial investigations for asset tracing, the importance of domestic inter-agency cooperation, and the collection of statistics. The discussion emphasized the need to improve cooperation among investigators, prosecutors, and asset managers to ensure assets retain their value throughout the judicial process.
The meeting was an invaluable opportunity for BAMIN participants to share experiences and best practices ultimately benefitting the BAMIN Network with enriching knowledge and expertise.
The meeting was supported by OSCE “Strengthening Asset Recovery Efforts in the OSCE Region | OSCE”
On 28th and 29th May 2024, the BAMIN Steering Group, supported by the BAMIN Secretariat, gathered for the third time in 2024 in Skopje, North Macedonia. The meeting was attended by Agency Directors and Asset Managers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, hosted by the Presidency of North Macedonia.
A pivotal moment of the meeting was the handover of the BAMIN Presidency to Moldova North Macedonia, with the traditional signature of the BAMIN Flag. This flag is kept by each presidency. Signing a tradition going back to 2017, origin of the network. From May 2024 until May 2025 the BAMIN Presidency will therefore be held by the North Macedonian Agency for Management of Seized and Confiscated Property.
The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the network’s operational strategy, exchange best practices as well as discuss the development of asset management and arising needs. In particular, the Steering Group addressed one of the issues raised by the new EU Asset Recovery and Confiscation Directive 2024/1260. Namely, Article 29, provides for the establishment of cooperation platforms for asset recovery and management, emphasising the importance of international collaboration in this field.
BAMIN is also looking forward to the approaching of the BAMIN Annual General Meeting hosted by the North Macedonian Presidency in September. In addition, training on the effective management of crypto assets is planned back-to-back with the AGM.
With the new Presidency of North Macedonia, BAMIN is preparing to reinforce its commitment and continue promoting cooperation and sharing best practices in the field of asset management.
BAMIN is funded by the OSCE through the project “Providing support to Asset Management Offices” within the framework of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Strengthening Asset Recovery Efforts in the OSCE Region” OSCE extra-budgetary project n. 1102457
Skopje, North Macedonia – 27th February 2024
The Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) is currently holding its Steering Group Meeting (SGM) in Skopje, North Macedonia. Representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Ukraine, Moldova, and North Macedonia are attending the meeting, discussing strategic developments of the network as well as planning upcoming activities.
The meeting marks a significant moment as North Macedonia prepares to take over the BAMIN presidency from Moldova at the end of April 2024. The Steering Group is debating over the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), to be hosted in North Macedonia in September 2024.
Given the importance of the BAMIN, the Steering Group is also discussing the expansion of BAMIN as more and more jurisdictions are currently approaching the network. These jurisdictions are ranging from the EU and Asia, strengthening its international cooperation in the management of seized and confiscated assets in line with BAMIN goals of strengthening cross border cooperation and national capacities in effectively dealing with seized and confiscated assets.
In addition to the Steering Group Meeting, a peer-review is being conducted by the BAMIN members, assessing the effectiveness of the North Macedonian Asset Management Office (AMO). Participating offices are reviewing current practices and interviewing representatives from various Macedonian agencies. The Peer Review was discussed and agreed during the 2023 AGM, where North Macedonia volunteered to be the first jurisdiction to be reviewed. BAMIN had worked on supporting AMOs in increasing their effectiveness by developing Guidelines on the Effective Mandate of an Asset Management Office, currently comprising 25 indicators to measure the effectiveness of the AMOs.
The SGM and Peer Review are organised by the BAMIN Secretariat with the invaluable support of the OSCE, the current financier of the network. Mr. Pavel Calpajiu, representing the Moldovan Presidency of BAMIN, chairs the meeting alongside Mr. Driton Nebiu, Director of the Agency for Seized and Confiscated Assets in North Macedonia, with the support of the BAMIN Secretariat, who is represented by Ms. Jill Thomas, Mrs. Maria Illetterati, and Mr. Alessandro D’Autillio.
About BAMIN
The Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) stands as an informal network committed to fostering cooperation and enhancing efficiency in the management of seized and confiscated assets across the Balkan region and internationally, currently encompassing 20 jurisdictions worldwide.
BAMIN’s core mission is to facilitate collaboration among Asset Management Office, promote cross-border cases cooperation and serve as a hub for the exchange of information, best practices and expertise.
OSCE confirmed its support to the ExB Project 1102457 “Strengthening Asset Recovery Efforts in the OSCE Region”. The project will provide support in the implementation and management of the BAMIN Network – Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network – including capacity building activities and support to strategic and operational activities.
The first activity delivered was the BAMIN Steering Group Meeting (SGM) which took place on the 30th and 31st of May in Chisinau, Moldova, at the National Anti-Corruption Centre. The SGM marked the officialization of the new Presidency of the network hosted by Moldova, with a Steering Group currently comprising Moldova, Montenegro, and Croatia. As per the BAMIN Manual, the BAMIN presidency will host the BAMIN Annual General Meeting.
The SGM was opened by Mr. Iulian Rusu, Director of National Anti-Corruption Commission, Moldova, Mr. Pavel Calpajiu, Head of the Criminal Asset Management Unit, Mr. Blagota Tatar representing the previous presidency and the BAMIN Secretariat from Montenegro and Ms. Jill Thomas representing the BAMIN Secretariat. BAMIN also welcomed a new member to the Secretariat, Ms. Maria Illetterati. The Secretariat currently comprises Ms. Jill Thomas, Mr. Andrea D’Angelo, Mr. Alessandro D’Autillio and Ms. Maria Illetterati.
Steering Group Members discussed the importance of BAMIN as an operational network as well as the upcoming activities to be undertaken during the 33 months project.
You can read the National Anticorruption Center (NAC) Press Release here.
We are proud to announce that the official video of BAMIN (the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network) has been published online. The video presents BAMIN’s most significant yearly event, the Annual General Meeting, the first held in person since 2020. This was the first held in person since 2020.
BAMIN aims at enhancing the effectiveness of the management and sale or disposal of seized and confiscated criminal benefits. BAMIN members’ main objective is to improve cross-border and interagency operational cooperation and improve information exchange.
Since its creation, BAMIN has managed to achieve significant results in the field of asset management, with the support of the OSCE which is funding the network since 2020.
Among notable strategic event is the AGM in Tirana, Albania, during which the participants had the chance to discuss and renew collaboration efforts, exchange information and focus on specific asset management cases.
Watch the video now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBIRQgkNjC4
The Annual General Meeting 2021 of the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) has been successfully delivered in Tirana, Albania from 27 to 29 October 2021. The AGM was organised by the BAMIN Albanian Presidency and BAMIN Steering Group and logistically coordinated by the BAMIN Secretariat located at SAFE.
After more than 2 years, our members have finally met in person, having thus the chance to use BAMIN as a platform for information exchange, also focusing on specific cases related to asset management in the last 12 months.
Participants discussed, in detail, challenges and best practices and had an opportunity to network with members from the 16 jurisdictions attending the event (10 in person 6 online). During a field visit to Shkodra, they were introduced to an example of social re-use of confiscated assets: a mobile library built on a 4×4 SUV vehicle, which provides books to children living in remote villages. Right after, BAMIN members also visited a confiscated chicken farm, under the administration of AAPSK, the Albanian asset management office.
This was the network’s first in-person meeting since 2019, convening 40 participants from asset management agencies from ten jurisdictions, representatives of the BAMIN Secretariat, the OSCE, GIZ and Europol, with 20 participants from six jurisdictions also participating online.
Elena Pici, General Secretary and Head of the Inter-Institutional Committee on Measures against Organized Crime opened the second day of the meeting by welcoming participants and stressing the BAMIN network’s role in fostering collaboration among jurisdictions. The welcoming remarks were followed by short presentations from representatives of asset management agencies, as well as keynote speakers from the U.S. Marshals Service from the United States Department of Justice, the Criminal Assets Bureau in Dublin, the National Police Chiefs’ Council in London, and Europol.
The OSCE, together with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) through the Global Program on ‘Combating Illicit Financial Flows’, supported the BAMIN AGM 2021, opening the doors for new multi-donor event and a fruitful longer cooperation.
The OSCE supports BAMIN through its extra-budgetary project, Strengthening the fight against transnational organized crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use. This regional initiative is jointly implemented by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA)
In the context of the project “Strengthening the fight against transnational organized crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use” the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (the OSCE) has prepared a video explaining the social re-use of confiscated assets and why it is important to give these assets back to the society.
Social re-use of confiscated assets from organized crime contributes to restoring communities’ confidence in the rule of law and promotes their involvement in the fight against organized crime.
For more details click on the link below and to watch the full video below:
Youtube: https://youtu.be/DUyEbLJtJm8
Project page: https://www.osce.org/projects/asset-recovery-in-south-eastern-europe
Website: https://www.osce.org/secretariat/492064
On the 8th and 9th of June 2021, the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network successfully implemented the first Joint Training for 2021 with a focus on the Management of Companies, with the support of the OSCE.
The Training was opened by Ms Denise Mazzolani, Deputy Head of the Strategic Police Matters Unit at the OSCE. Ms Mazzolani welcomed all participants in the training and highlighted “The OSCE is increasing its efforts and resource to promote the Management and Seizing of Assets from OCG promoting the Network also in other Regions…the Management of the Assets is very important; the good management have an impact both in the prevention and investigation itself”. Furthermore, Ms Mazzolani highlighted the importance of keeping the BAMIN active despite the many challenges encountered.
The 2-day training aimed at facilitating the exchange of best practices between the participating jurisdictions and enhancing cross-agency cooperation while identifying the limitations, gaps and challenges that some jurisdictions face.
The training was implemented using an interactive scenario based on a real case prepared by the Secretariat and by one of the BAMIN jurisdictions. The scenario requested the members to propose their approach in a case of fraud where proceeds of crime were laundered in their own jurisdiction, with 3 companies involved of which 1 in the jurisdiction responding to the scenario.
The training saw the attendance of 15 different Jurisdictions representing Asset Management Offices and other relevant institutions. During the training, the participants presented their approach in solving the scenario, by addressing the moment in which the Asset Management Office is involved in the case and the type of communication the AMO receives; which are the preliminary screening process that the AMO would carry out; and, considering the specific case presented, what would be the AMO approach in the management of the assets presented in the scenario.
In this manner, it has been possible to identify the existing gaps and limitations starting from the preliminary involvement in the pre-seizure plan until the actual physcal management of the assets.
The Management of Companies has raised a set of key points which will be approached in future training and will be tackled during the Annual General Meeting.
Belgrade, 26 May 2021
Today the Director of the Albanian Asset Management Office, Mr. Qirjako Theodhori, the BAMIN Secretariat, represented by Ms. Jill Thomas, and the OSCE Mission to Serbia attended the meeting hosted by the Directorate for Management of Confiscated Assets of the Republic of Serbia.
The visit was organised in the framework of the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) and funded by the OSCE, within the project “Strengthening the fight against transnational organized crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use” in a specific activitie that facilitated the exchange of information and practices as well as discussion on the possibility for Serbia to join the BAMIN as a Member in 2021.
During the meeting, both Asset Management Offices had a comprehensive discussion on the practices used to manage assets, focusing in particular on vehicles and properties of citizens residing in other countries, good practices as well as laws and bylaws that can improve capacity to manage seized and confiscated assets and enhance cross-border cooperation. Furthermore, the possibility of peer-to-peer exchange in the framework of the BAMIN was discussed and well received to further facilitate the exchange of best practices.
The meeting sets an important milestone in the BAMIN, further expanding its members and support in the region.
On the 11th of February the first SGM 2021 has been delivered online, with the presence of Albania and Montenegro.
During the SGM the members have discussed the action plan for 2021, as well as the BAMIN Annual General Meeting and the Presidency for 2022.
As key elements of the Action Plan 2021 the following events have been scheduled:
On the 17th of December, the last BAMIN Steering Group Meeting for 2020 was held, with the participation of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. BAMIN organises 1 Steering Group Meeting per year, due to COVID19 limitations and the need to constantly updated the Network on the evolution and implementation of the activities, the Secretariat has decided to organise 3 SGM one in February, June and December.
The last SGM was opened by Ms Anica Vucekovic, in representation of the BAMIN Presidency of Montenegro for 2020, followed by Ms Iris Pilika from the OSCE and Jill Thomas from the BAMIN Secretariat. The opening remarks highlighted how challenging 2020 has been but at the same time how BAMIN has managed to remain active and received the contribution from all Members Jurisdiction and non-members.
The BAMIN SGM is based on the rotation of three Members, in particular it comprises the previous (Bosnia and Herzegovina), current (Montenegro) and future BAMIN Presidencies (Albania). The SGM has a strategic importance for the network since it is the meeting during which the priorities for the upcoming year are decided, including discussion on the topic of the Annual General Meeting and future membership.
The meeting was delivered online and hosted by Montenegro, who will hand over the BAMIN presidency to Albania in 2020. This was the last Steering Group Meeting for Bosnia and Herzegovina, both Director Jakic (Federal Confiscated Property Management Agency) and Director Kusic (Seized Asset Management Agency of Republic of Srpska) highlighted how important the network is and has been until now for their Jurisdiction.
The main points of discussion of the Steering Group Meeting were the BAMIN Presidency for 2021 and 2022, the topic of the 2021 AGM and the need to implement mixed events as a priority for 2021.
The BAMIN Presidency will be held by Albania for 2021 and Croatia has confirmed the willingness to host the Presidency for 2022. The Steering Group for the next year will be composed by Albania, Croatia and Montenegro.
The Steering Group has also confirmed the topic of the BAMIN Annual General Meeting for 2021 which will focus on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Companies – which is considered as priority in the region as highlighted by Mr Ricku representing the Albanian Agency for Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets. The tentative date for the BAMIN AGM is June 2021.
Lastly, the Steering Group has confirmed their willingness to further include Armenia, Georgia, Greece and Italy in the network, for a future membership of these Jurisdictions.
The meeting was supported by the OSCE, through an extra-budgetary project.
A vehicle seized in a drug case was auctioned for a total of 16.000€ in Thailand.
In line with the protocols, the vehicle was searched by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board before being auctioned, nothing was found at first. Once purchased, the new owner sent the vehicle to a garage for alteration.
In the process of disassembling the car, the mechanic found over 94.000 pills of amphetamines stashed in the bumper.
More about the case here: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51250345
The BAMIN (Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network) Annual General Meeting for 2020 was held today 26th of November. The AGM saw the participation of Sixteen Jurisdictions representing Asset Management Offices as well as Asset Recovery Offices, in addition to the BAMIN Secretariat and the OSCE who provided financial support to deliver the meeting.
The meeting was opened by Ms Anica Vucekovic from the Property Administration of Montenegro, who is currently holding the BAMIN Presidency. Ms. Vucekovic highlighted the effort taken in 2020 to keep the network active, despite the COVID19 pandemic and expressed her gratitude to all BAMIN colleagues for the continuous collaboration. Opening remarks were also provided by Ms. Denise Mazzolani, representing the OSCE in the framework of the project “Strengthening the fight against transnational organized crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use”. Ms. Mazzolani has also highlighted the efforts taken by the BAMIN Secretariat and the Members of the network in order to keep the network active and further facilitate the exchange of best practices and information.
Ms. Jill Thomas, member of the BAMIN Secretariat, completed the opening remarks by providing all participants with an overview on the main activities delivered during 2020 as well as an update on BAMIN Membership and the BAMIN Presidency. The network now includes 15 Jurisdictions, doubling its number since 2017.
Albania will host the BAMIN Presidency for 2021 while the discussion and confirmation of Croatia for the Presidency in 2022 will be formalised during the upcoming Steering Group Meeting.
For the first time, the AGM was delivered online. The BAMIN Secretariat asked the Members and participants to provide an update from the previous AGM focusing on:
• Legal and structural changes to your asset management systems (new laws adopted, new agencies created or planned);
• Successful stories of asset management;
• Considering the current situation, how has COVID19 had an impact on your daily
From the presentations, it emerged that several Jurisdictions are currently undergoing, or have gone, through legal and structural changes within their AMO with an overall improvement of their capacity to manage seized and confiscated assets. Another common outcome of the represented Asset Management Offices was a significant improvement since their establishment both in terms of capacity and volume of the sale of confiscated assets, in some cases this was highlighted as an improvement generated by the BAMIN activities. Furthermore, the exchange of successful stories will further stimulate new potential members to join the network, as highlighted by Greece who is now in the process of establishing an Asset Management Office and has expressed a strong interest in further joining future events of the network.
BAMIN is supporting Asset Management Offices and law enforcement agencies to strengthen the effective implementation of knowledge exchange, cooperation and networking initiatives at regional level, with a focus on the effective management of sequestrated and confiscated assets.
Lastly, another crucial aspect was highlighted in the closing remarks by Ms Iris Pilika from the OSCE; Ms Pilika reinforced the importance of the Social Reuse of assets. Under the Albania Presidency in 2021, BAMIN will promote effective social-reuse throughout its members.
Between 6 – 20 October 2020, The Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) delivered three online workshops on the challenges of and best practice in the management of moveable assets, for over 50 prosecution authority representatives , law enforcement officers and asset managers from different jurisdictions.
The interactive workshops, conducted over an online platform, involved the engagement of participants from 14 BAMIN member jurisdictions, as well as Georgia, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands. The workshops focused on a mock case and the asset management issues that arise during investigation, search and seizure, storage and sale of criminal assets.
The BAMIN Secretariat has adopted a strategy for involving investigators and prosecutors from different jurisdictions to role-play as asset management officers in order for them to gain an understanding of the limitations that Asset Management Officers face throughout the seizure and confiscations of assets.
There was a strong focus on the necessary interaction with prosecutors and law enforcement throughout the investigation and prosecution. The workshops enhanced regional co-operation and facilitated the exchange of good practice among national agencies. Furthermore, the workshop highlighted legal limitations in certain jurisdictions that impede asset managers in performing their tasks properly and efficiently. It showed the importance of involving asset management offices (AMOs) from the start during the pre-seizure phase, as well as throughout the long-term management of assets and finally their sale.
Prosecutors and law enforcement recognised the crucial role asset management plays in assets recovery and confirmed importance of continuous collaboration with AMOs in the process. Interactive online workshops, organized within the project “Strengthening the fight against transnational crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use” supported by the OSCE, proved an effective way to promote good practice and establish regional cooperation.
Despite the difficult moment we are all facing and despite the lockdown, which does not allow travelling, we are proud to keep the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) active by organising online activities.
The second BAMIN Steering Group Meeting on the 3rd of June 2020, being the first-ever delivered Online, was successfully delivered.
During the SGM, the discussion covered several topics, among which the postponement of the BAMIN Annual General Meeting due to the COVID19 travel restrictions and the planning of future activities for the year. Furthermore, the BAMIN website has been finalised and will be granting access to a private area for BAMIN Members where to upload files and access a repository with training material and informative documents.
The first Online SGM success, ensure that any future activity, if unable to be held live, will still be successfully delivered.
What is more, on the 4th of June the Online Training on Management of Crypto Assets for BAMIN was delivered. It is the first training delivered within BAMIN activities.
The speakers were experts from private and public entities from the UK – Mr Aidan Larkin from Asset Reality, Belgium – Mr Jean-Michel Verelst Deputy King’s Prosecutor of Brussels, and Ireland, Mr Nigel Petrie.
BAMIN Members as well as Practitioners from other countries who showed interest in the Network participated in the training. Overall, the training saw the attendance of over 14 different countries (Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Republic of Srpska, Bulgaria, Croatia, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ireland, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, UK) representing Asset Management Offices and other relevant institutions.
The training started providing some background information on the Crypto Assets, ensuring that all participants would have an understanding of the topic. The second session provided a Belgian Case Study on the Management of Crypto Currencies, explaining the best practice when selling seized assets and the security behind these transactions.
The first afternoon session provided the focused on the Academic Research being conducted by Mr Petrie on Harmonising the Management of Crypto Assets and the importance of Standardisation. Lastly, the last session of the training moved toward the Advanced Crypto Assets for BAMIN Practitioner, in particular the challenges existing in dealing with Crypto Assets as well as providing the international point of view.
The training was a success, with the attendees participating actively and raising questions while enhancing their knowledge and awareness of this constantly changing and challenging topic.
Both the Steering Group and the Training were delivered thanks to the funding of the OSCE.
A large drug trafficking criminal network was shut-down after 3 years international operation launched and led by Montenegro in 2017, with support from Europol and Law Enforcement from Austria, Croatia, France, Portugal, Serbia and Slovenia.
The cartel was trafficking drugs, particularly cocaine, from origin countries to Europe, disrupting one of the routes from Central America to Europe.
A link to the full article can be found on Europol Website or clicking here:
https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/balkan-cocaine-cartel-taken-down-in-montenegro
The first Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) Steering Group meeting of the year took place in Tirana on the 12th and 13th of February 2020. The event was hosted by the Albanian Agency for Seized and Confiscated Assets.
Director Svetlana Kusić, Seized Asset Management Agency of the Republic of Srpska and Director Vinko Jakic, Federal Agency for the Management of Seized Property formally handed over the BAMIN Presidency to Mr. Emir Dacić, Deputy Director, State Property Agency, Montenegro. The Steering Group comprises the previous (Bosnia and Herzegovina), current (Montenegro), and next year’s presidency (Albania), taking key decisions on BAMIN’s priorities and work programme.
At its sixth year of life, the Network is still growing and willing to include new members. As emerged from the meeting, the key topics for the year are the expansion of the Network’s membership, developing new activities for 2020, including mentorship and joint training. Furthermore, considering the recognised importance of Asset Management within the Asset Recovery process, BAMIN’s involvement in the Global Asset Recovery network is deemed necessary.
BAMIN will aim to achieve the following for 2020:
BAMIN is now entering a new stage of growth with the OSCE supporting the Network through the extra-budgetary project “Strengthening the fight against transnational crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use”.
How do agencies in the region manage the seized property? What are their responsibilities and how much are their legal solutions adapted? What is the cooperation of these agencies in the region and can individual countries apply the experiences of others?
These questions were addressed by Mr. Danijel Škugor, Secretary General of the Ministry of State Property of Croatia, Mr. Faton Asani, Director of the Agency for the Management of Confiscated Property of Northern Macedonia , and Mr. Kenan Kapo, director of the Federal Agency for the Management of Confiscated Property of BiH, on the Context talk-show on Al-Jazeera Balkans.
The Federal Agency for the Management of Confiscated Property marked its four year of existence on 26th of June, 2019. To mark the occasion, Kenan Kapo, Director of the Agency, and Faton Asani, director of the North Macedonian Agency for Management of Seized and Confiscated Property appeared on Channel N1 to discuss the work of the agencies, how the money is seized and what it is used for in BiH and North Macedonia, and the future plans of the agencies.
Mr. Asani stated that his Agency has many problems that have accumulated over the past 10 years, however, he expressed his content with the exchange of experience between North Macedonia and BiH in this field.
Mr. Kapo pointed out that seized assets are deposited and until a final decision is made on the confiscation of assets. This has caused the deprecation of seized assets. To address this issue, Mr. Kapo stated that they will propose amendments to the law, in line with EU models, to ensure that everyone can benefit from the seized and confiscated assets and vehicles.
Finally, Mr. Asani stated that in North Macedonia, the seized vehicles have been very beneficial for the government by saving over a million euros of the state. Over a period of two years, the Agency has reallocated about 300 seized vehicles to state institutions for their use. Last, Mr. Asani urged the Bosnian members of the parliament to support the initiative and law amendments proposed by Mr. Kapo as the money generated from the sale of seized property would be transferred to the state budget and would then be spent for beneficial projects.
The Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) held its first Steering Group Meeting of the year, on the 12th of February 2019, in Podgorica, Montenegro. The meeting was attended by the BAMIN Steering Group representatives from Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH), Montenegro, Macedonia, BAMIN Secretariat and representatives from the OSCE, which sponsored the organization of the event. BAMIN Steering Group meetings are held regularly to ensure that BAMIN is achieving its network objectives and to discuss preparations for the BAMIN Annual General Meeting, which this year will be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The meeting also served as a platform for the formal hand-over of the BAMIN Presidency for 2019. Mr. Faton Asani from the Macedonian Agency for Management of Seized and Confiscated Property formally handed the Presidency of BAMIN to Mr. Kenan Kapo, Federal Agency for the Management of Seized Property, and to Ms. Svjetlana Kusić, Seized Asset Management Agency of Republic of Srpska.
Regarding BAMIN membership, it was confirmed that Ukraine and Moldova have joined as Observer Members, bringing the total number of jurisdictions and organizations that have joined BAMIN to eleven. During the meeting, interest in BAMIN from the asset management agencies of Romania, Bulgaria and Czech Republic, as well as the Italian organization Libera was discussed. It was agreed to offer membership to these interested partners should they wish to join the network. The Steering Group also discussed other jurisdictions that may be invited to join BAMIN.
Finally, it was agreed that the repository section of the BAMIN website which will contain relevant regional and international laws on asset management, as well as information relating to the laws and institutions of each BAMIN member, would be prepared in time for the AGM 2019. The BAMIN Questionnaire analysis document, finalized in January 2019 by the Secretariat, will also be made available on the private area of BAMIN website, for all its Members.
The BAMIN SG confirmed the planning for implementation of the Annual General Meeting in BiH, tentatively in the second half of June 2019. The topics that will be discussed at the AGM will be finalized in the month of March 2019 and shared with Members for preparatory work. The AGM 2019 foresees the presence of altogether sixty participants, coming from over twelve jurisdictions located in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and EU Member States.
Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) held the annual general meeting on the 26th and 27th of June and was hosted by the 2018 BAMIN Presidency, Macedonia Agency for Management of Seized and Confiscated Property, with technical support from the European Union funded Project “Further Support to Kosovo Institutions in the Fight Against Organised Crime, corruption and violent Extremism” (OCC-CVE) in Kosovo.
Around 70 asset recovery practitioners from Asset Management Offices, law enforcement, prosecution authorities and court services attended from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
Mr. Oliver Ristovski, Deputy Minister of Justice, Macedonia opened the meeting and provided a welcome address. The meeting was Chaired by Mr. Faton ASANI, Director Agency for Management of Seized and Confiscated Property, Macedonia.
In addition, experts were provided with presentations from international experts from Europol, Bulgaria, Ireland and Netherlands, on the most topical Asset Recovery Developments and the Challenges in establishing an effective Asset Management Office.
The main conclusions from the meeting were:
BAMIN representatives from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the final conference of the EU-funded Project “Payback”, held in Brussels on 11th of July, during which the results of the project were presented.
Project “PAYBACK” has developed an innovative ICT tool, known as PAYBACK Data Management System which aims at improving the daily management of seized and provisionally confiscated assets and has been tested as a prototype in selected Member States.
PAYBACK DMS focuses on three areas of interest in asset management:
The conclusions from the conference were:
The Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) held its first Steering Group Meeting on 20th and 21st of March 2018, in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. The meeting was attended by the BAMIN Steering Group Representatives from Bosnia & Herzegovina, (BiH), Kosovo (KS), Macedonia (MK) and the BAMIN Secretariat. The meeting was organized as to ensure that BAMIN is progressing well and functioning according to its objectives, as well as to prepare for the BAMIN Annual General Meeting to be held in Skopje, Macedonia on the 26th and 27th of June.
Representing the Agency for Management and Sequestration of Criminal Assets (AMSCA) Kosovo, and the 2017 BAMIN Presidency, Mr Alban Sutaj formally handed the Presidency of BAMIN over to Director Faton Asani from the Macedonian Agency for Management of Seized and Confiscated Property. Mr. Sutaj proceeded to present the work done by Kosovo between 2014 and 2017 as the BAMIN President, and expressed that with Macedonia as the new President, BAMIN would continue to deliver on its aims and objectives.
Regarding BAMIN membership, it was confirmed that of the 8 regional jurisdictions invited to the BAMIN meetings to date, Albania, BiH, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro had returned “informal” registration forms to join BAMIN, with Serbia and Slovenia to be confirmed. It was also announced that Belgium would join the network as an Observer Member. In addition, Wilsons Auctions, an independent auctioning company from the United Kingdom will be joining as an associate member of the network.
Last, regarding the visibility of BAMIN, the Secretariat informed that the BAMIN website is in the workings, as well as other core communication documents, such as the BAMIN Manual and the BAMIN Leaflet. AThe Website and the documents will be presented during the BAMIN AGM 2018 in Skopje, Macedonia.
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