Increase the integrity of prosecutors and prosecuting the new challenges in organized crime

Progetto concluso
A man in a white protective suite controls things
An expert from the Bulgarian National Investigation Service works with the investigation equipment purchased in the frame of the project. © SDC DEZA

The project aims to strengthen the integrity, the legal and institutional capacity of Bulgarian Prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting organised crime. The project is in line with the national priorities and strategies in fighting organized crime and is directly targeting judiciary reforms and priorities entailed from the European Commission Reports on the Progress under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM). The project is part of the thematic fund security in Bulgaria. Further information about this fund can be found among the additional information on the very bottom of this page.

Paese/Regione Tema Periodo Budget
Bulgaria
Rafforzare la sicurezza pubblica
01.04.2014 - 30.09.2018
CHF  878’437

Note: the texts under all the headings, with the exception of 'Results achieved', describe the situation before the start of the project.

Gruppi target

Prosecutors, magistrates and law enforcement officials working in the field of organized crime

Attività
  • Performing research and analysis on the PORB operation
    with respect to tracing assets acquired through
    criminal activity.
  • Establishing guidelines on the Organization of the work
    in PORB on identification and seizure of illegally acquired
    assets.
  • Creation of a data base of the illegally acquired assets
    Specialized training on asset forfeiture
    Creation of a competence network in PORB on asset
    forfeiture.
  • Establishment of a specialized unit for tracing assets
    acquired through criminal activity.
  • Building prosecution cooperation between the Republic
    of Bulgaria and the Swiss Confederation with respect to
    asset forfeiture.
  • Research and analysis of JIT experience and good
    practices and development of guidelines on JIT application.
  • Development of Bulgarian - Swiss JIT protocol and JIT agreement template.
Risultati

Risultati raggiunti:  

  • Improved capacity of the PORB to investigate independently by providing technical resources for the collection of evidence.
  • Improved capacity of the PORB for investigating organised crimes, criminal assets anti-money laundering by setting up an Operational Duty Center, a series of trainings and an exchange visit to Switzerland.
  • Elaborated guidelines and a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) working on a common case serve as pillars for the elaborated first draft JIT protocol between Bulgaria and Switzerland.
  • Capacity building in the field of asset recovery through bilateral discussions among law enforcement institutions in Bulgaria and CH and through the elaboration of the first ever guidelines on asset recovery.
  • Improved exchange of information between key stakeholders on human trafficking: Case studies have been drafted in order to facilitate the collaboration of the relevant institutions working with unified information and providing adequate assistance to victims that are also witnesses. In addition, the knowledge and awareness of the PORB on the matter of Trafficking in Human Being (THB) has been improved through conducting an analysis on the Bulgarian and foreign legislation on THB, the analysis of specific THB cases and the participation of PORB representatives in the THB trainings and seminars of other key institutions and partners in that field (such as the NCCTHB, IOM and Animus).


Direzione/Ufficio responsabile DSC
Credito Contributo svizzero all'allargamento dell'UE
Partner del progetto Partner contrattuale
Economia privata
  • PORB, Prosecutors Office of the Republic of Bulgaria


Budget Fase in corso Budget Svizzera CHF    878’437 Budget svizzero attualmente già speso CHF    0 Budget inclusi partner del progetto CHF    974’632
Fasi del progetto Fase 10 01.07.2014 - 31.05.2019   (Completed) Fase 2 15.09.2012 - 30.09.2017   (Completed) Fase 1 01.09.2012 - 30.06.2016   (Completed) Fase 1 15.09.2012 - 31.12.2017   (Completed) Fase 1 15.09.2012 - 31.03.2018   (Completed) Fase 1 01.07.2013 - 30.06.2018   (Completed) Fase 1 01.07.2013 - 31.12.2017   (Completed)

Fase 1 01.04.2014 - 30.09.2018   (Completed)

Fase 1 01.05.2014 - 31.12.2017   (Completed)