On 18-20 November 2025, the EuroMed Justice project hosted a meeting in The Hague as part of a Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) activity, aimed to enhance the capacities of South Partner Countries (SPCs) in money laundering and asset recovery efforts. The meeting, requested by the Lebanese and Algerian judicial authorities, received positive feedback from participants, who appreciated the chance to connect with colleagues from neighbouring countries, and gain valuable insights into combating financial crimes. The three-day meeting saw the participation of 15 representatives from Algeria, Lebanon and Palestine*.
Attendees learned about international legal frameworks and standards that guide anti-money laundering efforts, as well as more detailed explorations of the legal elements, stages, and typologies of money laundering and the deceptive methods employed by perpetrators. The discussions further concerned parallel financial investigations and prosecutions and advanced methodologies for the identification and tracing of criminal assets.
Participants valued the exchange of experiences and expertise, which fostered a sense of cooperation and collaboration among the representatives. The meeting also provided a platform for sharing best practices in drafting requests and procedural documents essential for money laundering investigations. Mutual legal assistance in asset recovery, including the management of assets like cryptocurrencies, was another focal point. Participants exchanged expertise on overcoming hurdles, such as lifting banking secrecy and freezing assets, offering strategic insights into these complex challenges.
Through their interactions, attendees gained a deeper understanding of the importance of speed and efficiency in combating financial crimes. They also developed their skills in prosecuting complex financial cases, and were introduced to other networks, such as CARIN, that can be utilised to facilitate international cooperation and information sharing.
The event contributes to enhancing judicial cooperation requests from SPC authorities by providing a better understanding of EU requirements and, therefore, accelerating cooperation in money laundering and asset recovery cases. This strengthened judicial partnership also plays a role in advancing global strategies against financial crimes, contributing to a more cohesive and effective international framework for judicial collaboration. The meeting was seen as an important step in building the capacities of SPC authorities, enabling them to more effectively tackle money laundering and asset recovery efforts in their respective countries.
* This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the initial positions of the Member States on this issue.
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union