Back High-level conference on strengthening the effectiveness of international co-operation in fighting transnational organised crime

High-level conference on strengthening the effectiveness of international co-operation in fighting transnational organised crime

The two-day international conference “Strengthening the effectiveness of international co-operation in fighting transnational organised crime”, served as a platform and an opportunity to share challenges prosecutors face in specific, complex cases, including those addressing the confiscation of illegally obtained assets, was organised in co-operation with the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Armenia. 

Emphasis was placed on the importance of enhancing non-conviction-based confiscation as a complementary tool for the recovery of illicit assets and including appropriate safeguards for freezing and confiscation proceedings.

Anna Vardapetyan, Prosecutor General of Armenia, stressed the importance of the Conference by noting that the co-operation of the Prosecutor's Office with the European Union and the Council of Europe has deep-rooted traditions and has entered a qualitatively new stage of development in the recent years. “I am confident that today’s launching event will set a new, higher bar for the professional dialogue, and will become an effective platform for sharing knowledge about international co-operation in combating transnational organised crime, as well as the experiences and challenges of our countries in the fields of confiscating of illegally acquired property.

"Happy to welcome this high-level conference on International Co-operation in Fighting Transnational Crime; working together on the basis of European standards to fight transnational crime and strengthen the effectiveness of rule of law and justice reforms is key to strengthen Armenian institutional reform and resilience. Rule of law and justice reform is essential to consolidate democracy," mentioned Vassilis Maragos, the European Union Ambassador to Armenia in his opening remarks.

Prosecutors from eleven member States of the Council of Europe (Armenia, Austria, Czechia, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania, and Switzerland) participated in the conference, as well as the President and the Vice-President of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE), and the EUROJUST.

 

Highlighting the  importance of international co-operation between prosecutors and law enforcement authorities, Jana Zezulová, the CCPE President, noted in her keynote address: “CCPE is on some occasions referred to as the “prosecutorial arm” of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, meaning that it is through the CCPE that the best European practices are assembled, analysed and transformed into so called “soft law” standards and guidance which the Committee of Ministers transmits to all Member States for reinforcing the status of prosecutors and their independent, impartial, and effective work.”

This event is part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.

YEREVAN, ARMENIA 26-27 APRIL 2024
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About the project

The project "Support to the justice reform in Armenia" aims to ensure that citizens of Armenia enjoy their rights in line with the European standards and benefit from accountable and professional justice system. It supports Armenian authorities to further advance the reform of the judicial system by strengthening its independence, accountability and professionalism. It also aims to aid Armenian authorities ensure effective implementation of the new criminal justice legislation in line with European human rights standards.

The project is implemented within the third Phase of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Partnership for Good Governance” running from 2023 until 2027. It builds on the results of the previous phases of the Partnership for Good Governance in the field of strengthening justice (Phase I 2015-2018 and Phase II 2019-2023).

How does the project work?

  • Through a combination of tailored policy/legislative, capacity-building and awareness raising actions

Who benefits from the project?

  • Ministry of Justice
  • Constitutional Court
  • Court of Cassation
  • General Assembly of Judges
  • Association of Judges
  • Justice Academy
  • Supreme Judicial Council
  • General Prosecutor’s Office
  • Human Rights Defender’s Office
  • Office of the Representative of Armenia on International Legal Matters
  • Civil society organisations
  • The general public, including persons seeking the protection of their rights in courts

What do we expect to achieve?

  • National authorities have the necessary capacity and tools to implement the Judicial and Legal Reforms Strategy for 2022-2026 in line with European standards and best practices.
  • National authorities align legal framework and policies on judicial independence, impartiality and accountability with CoE standards.
  • Judicial self-governing bodies’ and courts' capacity is enhanced to act in a professional, transparent and accountable manner.
  • Capacity of the criminal justice stakeholders is strengthened to ensure effective implementation of new criminal justice legislation through harmonised policies, institutional and legal frameworks, and implementation practices.


 

What is the Partnership for Good Governance?

The “Partnership for Good Governance” (PGG) is a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe for strengthening good governance in the Eastern Partnership region*. The "Partnership for Good Governance" provides tailor-made support to Eastern Partnership countries to bring their legislation and practice closer to European standards in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy. It supports, in particular, Eastern Partnership countries’ domestic reforms to strengthen justice, counter economic crime, promote equality and non-discrimination, advance women’s access to justice and combat violence against women.

* While the Partnership for Good Governance does not include activities with the participation of the Belarusian authorities, activities may be organised with the representatives of Belarusian civil society and democratic forces as appropriate in line with the European Council Conclusions of February 2022 and the Decision of the Council of Europe Ministers’ Deputies of March 2022.