Top Balkan Prosecutors Sign Pact Against Crime

Chief prosecutors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia agreed to amend the Memorandum of Understanding for Regional Co-operation against Organised Crime and Other Forms of Serious Crime, signed five years ago in Skopje, opening the way for closer cooperation.

The revised memorandum broadens the scope of prosecutorial co-operation making direct contacts between the prosecution services and it is expected to have a positive impact on the day-to-day cooperation between the signatories.

Furthermore, it includes explicit references to the relevant European legal instruments in the field, thus promoting the establishment of a common terminology and standards, facilitating the process of harmonisation of the national legislation on criminal procedure.

The deal was reached under the umbrella of the PROSECO project of Council of Europe, which aims to improve judicial cooperation in the region, as it moves forward with its bid to join the EU.