EU, Balkan countries step up cooperation on organized crime fight
Ministers and officials from the EU and the western Balkan countries pledged on Friday to step up their cooperation on fighting organized crime and terrorism.
Interior and justice ministers from the EU and the western Balkan countries - Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia - took part in the two-day meeting in Albanian capital city of Tirana.
Finish Interior Minister Kari Rajamaki told a press conference the western Balkan nations should increase their own regional cooperation in the first place. But he admitted that organized crime in the EU and the western Balkan countries was closely connected.
"The EU countries need to step up their cooperation with the western Balkan countries to achieve their goals," he said.
Organized crimes such as human smuggling, drugs and weapons trafficking are endemic throughout the western Balkan region.
Rajamaki, whose country is at the helm of the rotating EU presidency, chaired the annual meeting on justice and internal affairs between the EU and the western Balkan countries.
Interior and justice ministers from the EU and the western Balkan countries - Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia - took part in the two-day meeting in Albanian capital city of Tirana.
Finish Interior Minister Kari Rajamaki told a press conference the western Balkan nations should increase their own regional cooperation in the first place. But he admitted that organized crime in the EU and the western Balkan countries was closely connected.
"The EU countries need to step up their cooperation with the western Balkan countries to achieve their goals," he said.
Organized crimes such as human smuggling, drugs and weapons trafficking are endemic throughout the western Balkan region.
Rajamaki, whose country is at the helm of the rotating EU presidency, chaired the annual meeting on justice and internal affairs between the EU and the western Balkan countries.