On 4-5 July 2023, the Council of Europe’s Economic Crime and Cooperation Division held a two-day training on conducting operational analysis for 17 representatives of the Financial Intelligence Directorate under the State Agency for National Security (FID-SANS, Bulgarian FIU). The training was organised in cooperation with the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) of Malta, which nominated two experts to share their practical experience and good practices with Bulgarian counterparts.

The training was launched by an overview of the main objectives of the intelligence function, including the dissemination of information at the national and international levels. As a follow-up, the presentations focused on the different stages of processing and prioritisation of suspicious transaction reports and suspicious activity reports. More specifically, participants could enrich their knowledge on the priority evaluation mechanisms, as well as on the identification of targeted intelligence relevant for domestic of foreign counterparts, or intelligence requiring further in-depth analysis. FIAU experts have also provided useful advice on the use of templates, simultaneous handling of multiple reports, dissemination of information to national and foreign counterparts, as well as on the use of open-source intelligence (OSINT).

The second day of the training focused on the analytical process required at the operational stage of the analysis. For instance, FID-SANS representatives had the opportunity to get further acquainted with useful techniques for sourcing information from national and foreign stakeholders, as well as for compiling useful intelligence packages for the law enforcement. The presentations were complemented by group discussions on several case studies.

The event aimed at further supporting Bulgarian authorities with addressing recommendations provided in the Fifth Round Mutual MONEYVAL Evaluation Report of Bulgaria, ensuring the continuity of technical assistance provided by the Economic Crime and Cooperation Division of the Council of Europe to Bulgarian competent authorities.