Serbia has made a significant legislative and institutional effort to fight organised crime. However, the final judicial results in criminal cases do not reflect this, despite the fact that the legislative framework provides for useful tools.

Therefore, with the support of the Support to Serbia in the area of justice, freedom and security European programme, training was carried out on EU practices in the fight against environmental crime, with a special focus on hazardous waste and its illegal trade. The main objective was to improve the capacity of all Serbian actors in the criminal process, such as judges, prosecutors and police investigators, in combating, investigating, and prosecuting environmental crime, aligning national efforts with European environmental standards. The need to stimulate technical discussions with peers on best practices and experiences in foreign jurisdictions in EU countries has been taken into account.

The training covered, among other topics, EU best practices in the fight against environmental crime, the relationship of criminal organisation to environmental crime and the investigation, prosecution and trial of environmental crimes related to the illegal trade in hazardous waste and the smuggling of protected animal species. In addition, attendees were able to participate in case studies and discussions.

The activity was held in coordination with the Judicial Academy of Serbia and was attended by several international experts, including Antonio Vercher, head of the Environmental and Territorial Planning Prosecutor’s Office, the magistrate Helena Gil, Federico Ninni, Carabinieri lieutenant colonel of the Environmental Protection group and Héctor Santed, head of the Pollution Criminal Intelligence team of SEPRONA (Nature Protection Service of the Guardia Civil).