Strengthening the fight against Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans (EU4FAST) (GIZ, Italian Ministry of Interior, Civipol, CILC)

Duration

02/06/2023 - 31/05/2027

Beneficiary/ies

Western Balkan Ministries of Interior, Ministry of Security, Ministries of Human Rights and Refugees​, Ministries of Labour, Employment, ​Veteran and Social Affairs​, Public Prosecution offices​, Police agencies​, Financial Intelligence Units​, Local and international NGO’s, social services

Donor/s

EU, BMZ, Italian Ministry of Interior, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This project is jointly implemented by GIZ, Italian Ministry of Interior, Civipol, Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC).

Funding Amount

EUR 39,303,022

Funding gaps (if any)

N/A

Objective/s

The Overall objective of the action is to strengthen the rule of law in the Western Balkans.

The specific objective of the action is to improve the conditions for preventing and combatting migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings in the Western Balkans.

Contributing to the Roadmap goal/s

Contributing to the Roadmap overall targets

Goal 3:

• Prevent trafficking (smuggling, illicit trade and transit) of FAE through improved processes, equipment and training of targeted law enforcement units.
• Strengthen existing bilateral, regional and international mechanisms and encourage new forms of good practice to counter trafficking of firearms.

Key activities implemented up to date

• EU4FAST supported several meetings in Bosnia and Herzegovina between law enforcement agencies and the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to determine the most effective approach for confronting armed migrant smuggling groups from Afghanistan, which pose a significant security threat. EU4FAST also supported meetings between EUROPOL/EMSC, EU Member States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other Western Balkan (WB) jurisdictions to discuss strategies for jointly confronting these armed criminal groups, which currently operate primarily in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania, as well as in other EU countries.
• To more effectively counter armed smuggling groups from Afghanistan, EUROPOL established the Operational Task Force Zebra (OTF Zebra). This was the result of discussions and agreements made during several meetings supported by EU4FAST, the last of which was held in Sarajevo on May 7-8 2024.
• JAD SEE 2024 – Command and Coordination Centre (Sarajevo)A Command and Coordination Centre was established in Sarajevo for the operational phase of Joint Action Day South-East Europe (JAD SEE) 2024, with EU4FAST as co-action leader. It involves operational support to the Western Balkans 6 (WB6), Moldova, Ukraine, Türkiye, and two EU Member States, in cooperation with SELEC. From the Coordination Centre in Sarajevo, colleagues from 26 countries took decisive action against key criminal threats in the region. The JAD SEE 2024 Operation „Danube“ targeted multiple criminal threats, including trafficking in human beings, migrant smuggling, drug and illegal firearms trafficking, and the fight against high-risk criminal networks. As a result of the massive operation, 796 individuals were arrested, 316 investigations initiated and 442 weapons seized. Within this operation, performed under the motto “Uniting Forces Against Organised Crime”, 31,109 officers on duty performed 655,914 checks on entities, which included 516,153 persons, 152,284 vehicles, 4,985 postal packages and 1,181 premises.

Main challenges encountered

Firearms smuggling continues to be a significant concern, particularly in Moldova, Ukraine, and the WB6. Availability of SALW in the WB6 is still estimated as high, with gas-powered weapons imported to the region, detection of firearms in possession of/circumstances indicating the involvement of migrant smugglers, etc. EU4FAST is supporting cooperation between the EU and WB6 jurisdictions in the context of EMPACT OAP FIA (firearms), led by Spain.