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Interview with Ferenc Banfi, the Head of the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) to INFOTAG agency
I:
A seminar on fighting organised crime for representatives of law
enforcement agencies of Moldova convened in Chisinau. What was its aim?
F.B.:
The EU Mission has been working on organised crime issues from the very
beginning of its operation in 2005. We have assisted Moldova and
Ukraine in coordinating joint activities on border control and
investigation of crime. These activities are an integral part in
fighting organised crime. At the same time the Mission assisted its
partners in harmonization of such procedures with the EU requirements.
Last year EUBAM conducted a seminar on fighting organised crime for the
senior management of law enforcement agencies. It was agreed to
continue the seminar next year. In addition, the Mission provided a
study visit to Slovenia for the representatives of law enforcement
agencies of Moldova. The Moldovan delegation had an opportunity to
learn from the experience of their colleagues in Slovenia in the field
of fighting organised crime. Slovenia’s geographic situation and
population of this country is similar to Moldova. Moldovan
representatives studied the harmonisation of legislation with the EU
and new methods in combating organised crime.
The next step is
to implement organised crime threat assessment, which is widely used by
the EU Member States. It is a proactive approach to fighting organised
crime forecasting possible criminal actions in future and promoting a
timely preparation of effective combat strategies.
I: What is your assessment of the situation with organised crime in Moldova?
F.B.:
Moldovan model in fighting organised crime, unlike the European model,
focuses on the investigation of the previously committed crimes.
Aknowledging EU’s experience, we highly recommend Moldova to change its
methods of combating organised crime and turn to the prevention and
prediction of crime. Law enforcement agencies of Moldova have good
potential and highly professional staff. We are ready to assist them.
For example, the aim of the recent seminars is to promote new methods
in combating organised crime. We are sure that changes in this area can
be resolved with the Parliament and Government’s assistance necessary
for creating proper legal mechanism and assign resources required for
their implementation.
It is possible to implement necessary
changes in the coming years and we can be sure that European best
practice will be integrated in Moldova.
I: How many years will it take for Moldova to acquire best practice in combating organised crime?
F.B.:
Any kind of harmonisation or modernisation in public administration and
law enforcement is not a single action. It includes complicated and
long-term processes. For example, in 1990 Hungary decided to join the
EU. It became the candidate country in 1993; and only in 2004 Hungary
became the Member State of the EU. In September 2008 it joined the
Schengen zone. These are the stages I am guided by. But we can not
copy Hungarian experience. Each country is different, including
political environment. I believe that with proper provision of
recourses and strong commitment Moldova could reach these goals in
several years.
I: What changes have occurred in combating organised crime since the beginning of EUBAM activities?
F.B.:
As a result of cooperation between Moldova, Ukraine and the EU the
border control has improved. At the same time, the improved border
control has not impeded the process of crossing the border. On the
contrary, it has facilitated free movement of legitimate travellers and
trade. In addition, during the time of EUBAM’s presence our partner
services started detecting large quantities of cocaine and heroin. It
was not the case in Moldova before. The Mission analysts have many
times indicated about the possibility of such crimes. These
achievements are results of joint actions. At the same time more
efforts should be addressed to improve the investigation and
prosecution of criminal activity. Unsolved crimes have a negative
impact on the society in general.
I: There are allegations that
Transnistria produces weapons for international illegal trade. Do you
have any evidence of this fact?
F.B.: One of EUBAM’s tasks at
the beginning of our operation was to clarify this information.
Therefore, we have properly considered all cases connected with weapons
and ammunition registered at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border. Based this
evidence we have not detected organised criminal activity engaged in
weapons smuggling in the Transnistrian region of Moldova. Nevertheless,
hunting guns and ammunition are continuously detected at the border.
The detection of such cases by our partner services is increasing
significantly.
INFOTAG note: Representatives of border guard and
customs services, Tax Police, Ministries of Interior and Justice, the
ISS, General Prosecutor’s Office, Centre for Combating Economic Crimes
and Corruption, Centre for Combating Trafficking in Persons, Parliament
took part in the EUBAM seminar. It was delivered by an experienced
expert, Mr John Abbott, former Head of the National Criminal
Intelligence Service of the UK and former Vice-President of Interpol.
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