In Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU integration process, one of the key challenges remains aligning its judicial system with European standards. In this context, effective asset forfeiture of property gained through criminal activities becomes one of the key tools to strengthen the rule of law and combat organized crime and corruption.
This was the focus of the training held by the AIRE Center and the EU4Justice project in Sarajevo, where judges, prosecutors, and other key judicial actors from Bosnia and Herzegovina had the opportunity to exchange experiences and knowledge on financial investigations, asset forfeiture, and anti-money laundering —key areas for alignment with the EU acquis.
Mika Aalto, Finnish prosecutor and expert in the EU4Justice project, funded by the EU, stated: “Asset forfeiture of proceeds obtained through criminal activities is more than a legal obligation; it is a matter of trust in justice. When citizens see that the judicial system operates in line with international standards, it creates a foundation for strengthening the rule of law, which is crucial for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European perspective.”
Professor Eldan Mujanović, the moderator of the workshop, added: “Financial investigations and asset forfeiture are fundamental tools for combating corruption and organized crime. This workshop is important because it provides an opportunity to exchange experiences and apply best practices that will help further harmonize Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legal system with EU legislation.”
Martina Raguž, project coordinator at the AIRE Center, emphasized: “The final training was an opportunity for all participants to strengthen the knowledge that will help them apply European standards in their daily practices. The AIRE Center is proud to support this process, alongside our partners from EU4Justice and the British government.”
Support for this event was also provided by the British Embassy, the UK Government, and the European Union through the EU4Justice project, whose engagement is crucial for enabling the implementation of European standards in judicial reforms. “Cooperation with European partners allows Bosnia and Herzegovina to move closer to high judicial standards and lay the foundation for future successful development,” concluded Raguž.
Today’s event included training sessions and workshops. Through sessions on financial investigations, money laundering, and asset forfeiture, participants gained valuable knowledge on how to effectively identify, trace, and recover illicit assets and apply relevant legislation.
