Skopje, 28 February 2024 (MIA) – The strategic development of the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN), cross-border management of seized and confiscated assets and planning the network's next activities are on the agenda of the BAMIN Steering Group two-day meeting taking place in Skopje.

According to Director of the Agency for Management of Confiscated Property, Driton Nebiu, the meeting is also discussing expansion of BAMIN, because, he noted, more and more jurisdictions from different parts of the world, including from the European Union and Asia, are expressing interest in the network.

"Cooperation with new jurisdictions strengthens the international cooperation in the management of confiscated assets and also increases national ability to efficiently deal with the confiscated assets in accordance with the objectives of BAMIN. In addition, BAMIN members carry out a review mission as part of the meeting to evaluate the effectiveness of the Macedonian Agency for Management of Confiscated Property," Nebiu told a press conference on Wednesday. 

Agencies participating in the meeting, he added, will review current practices and interview representatives from relevant Macedonian institutions.

Jill Thomas of the BAMIN Secretariat pointed out that Steering Group representatives discussed ways to provide support to the 20 member countries for more effective management of seized assets acquired through criminal means in cross-border cases where the property is located in one jurisdiction and the case is processed in another. 

"Finding and confiscating criminally acquired assets hidden in different jurisdictions, i.e. in different countries, represents a great challenge both from the point of view of the procedures and the overall legal procedure. Once such property is seized it should be managed in a manner that preserves the interests of both the countries and the victim of the crime. It is of crucial importance that the authorities involved in this procedure use the services of the experts in the agencies for the management of confiscated property and consult their expertise," said Thomas. 

He noted that the country already has significant experience in this process, but, he added, there are always new challenges to deal with.

"One such challenge is the emergence of cryptocurrencies, which requires agencies for management of confiscated property to consider alternative strategies and ways of dealing with this type of asset. This will be the key focus of North Macedonia's BAMIN Presidency in 2024," Thomas said. 

The BAMIN Steering Group meeting in Skopje is organized by the BAMIN Secretariat with the support of the OSCE. In addition to North Macedonia, representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, Croatia, Moldova and Ukraine participate in the meeting as members of the BAMIN Management Board. The meeting is taking place as North Macedonia is due to take over the BAMIN Presidency from Moldova towards the end of April. 

Photo: MIA