WBCJ Project Completes Outreach Event Series Across the Western Balkans

24 October 2024|NEWS

The series of outreach events organised by the Western Balkans Criminal Justice (WBCJ) Project has successfully concluded, covering Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The Project Team held six events in the region between September 2023 and October 2024, one in each beneficiary country, with a focus on promoting Eurojust, the WBCJ Project, the EJN Network, the JITs Network, and the range of support available to the region.

The events brought together prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officials, and international partners, fostering collaboration to enhance judicial cooperation and strengthen cross-border justice. Participants were introduced to the role of Eurojust, the WBCJ Project, the EJN Network and the JITs Network, in the Western Balkans, alongside practical resources such as financial assistance mechanisms for cross-border investigations, Joint Investigation Teams (JITs), and tailored operational tools.

Each session provided a platform for in-depth discussions, expert presentations, and interactive workshops. Highlights included case studies on successful cross-border investigations, best practices and Q&A sessions to address specific challenges faced by practitioners in the region. Materials such as JIT model agreements and project leaflets, translated into local languages, were distributed to support the operational capacities of participants.

The events reinforced the commitment of the WBCJ Project to supporting the rule of law and improving judicial cooperation in the Western Balkans, and between the region and the EU.