On 12-13 November 2019, within la Grande Halle de la Vilette in Paris, the IPA/2017 Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans Project presented its unique approach to fighting organised crime at the Paris Peace Forum. The Paris Peace Forum is an annual event that seeks to find peaceful global governance solutions for an international system in crisis, and mobilize all stakeholders for collective action. The Project was one of the 116 governance projects featured, chosen from over 800 applicants.
Around 3,000 guests attended the forum, including 30 Heads of state and government, 6 Heads of major multilateral organisations and over 60 delegations. The Project participated in the Paris Peace Forum to discuss ideas on peace and security, and share its hands-on methods of providing real time advice, strengthening operational capacities and facilitating cooperation within the region and with EU institutions. The participation in the forum allowed the Project to participate in relevant debates and workshops (including topics such as global governance, the trafficking of cultural goods, and terrorism finance) and expand their ever-growing network that supports investigations and prosecutions across borders.
The project is jointly funded by the European Union (DG NEAR) and German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, as well as the Italian Ministry of Interior and the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC).
For more about the Paris Peace Forum, you may refer to the official Paris Peace Forum website. You may also visit the IPA/2017 Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans website for a more in-depth article about the forum, other project news and more about our work.