Despite significant progress in prosecuting corruption and organised crime, Western Balkan countries continue to lose billions of euros due to ineffective mechanisms for recovering criminal assets, it was stated at a regional conference held yesterday in Sarajevo, ahead of the Berlin Process Summit to be hosted later this month in London.

According to United Nations data, the Balkan drug route generates between €12 and €19.5 billion annually, while less than 2% of illicit assets are recovered across the region. Participants warned that criminal networks already operate seamlessly across borders, using digital technologies and global financial channels, while national institutions still face bureaucratic barriers and slow data exchange.

Sabina Đapo, Programme Manager for the Western Balkans at the AIRE Centre, underlined the need for faster political decisions:

“The AIRE Centre, in partnership with the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, connects over 60 judges, prosecutors, investigators, and financial experts through the Regional Asset Recovery Platform. As a result, a trilateral agreement between Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro on the division of confiscated assets has been developed, a fully harmonised expert-level document ready for adoption, awaiting political approval,” said Đapo.

She added that asset recovery is a matter of public interest and an essential part of the reforms under the Berlin Process:

“Confiscating illegally obtained assets not only restores citizens’ trust in the judiciary but directly contributes to security, economic growth, and good governance: the three key priorities of the Berlin Process Summit. Asset recovery enhances security by disrupting criminal finances, supports growth by returning resources to the legal economy, and strengthens governance by demonstrating the independence and integrity of institutions,” Đapo emphasised.

Lejla Kurtanović, Prosecutor at the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor’s Office and member of the Regional Asset Recovery Network, noted that financial investigations in Bosnia and Herzegovina are already a key instrument in combating corruption, but their application should be further improved:

“Bosnia and Herzegovina has an established system of financial investigations and special investigative measures, from communication surveillance and bank account monitoring to undercover operations and digital tracking. Their full effectiveness depends on timely initiation and coordination. Financial investigations must begin in parallel with criminal proceedings to prevent the transfer or concealment of assets. Strengthening technical and analytical capacities, especially in tracking complex financial flows and cooperating with the banking sector, makes the system more resilient and responsive to emerging forms of crime”, Kurtanović said.

The messages from the Sarajevo conference serve as preparation for the Berlin Process Summit, which will take place on 22 October in London, bringing together prime ministers, ministers, and leaders from Western Balkan countries alongside representatives of the European Union, the United Kingdom, and international partners.

Julian Reilly, British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasised that the fight against corruption must remain a shared priority for all governments in the region.

“Corruption is a burden on every Western Balkan country, undermining public trust and enabling organised crime to grow. Governments must act jointly and across borders to confront threats that endanger the entire region”, said Ambassador Reilly. The conference, “Anti-Corruption as a Driver of Good Governance in the Western Balkans,” gathered senior officials, ministers of justice, representatives of institutions, civil society, and international organisations. The event was organized by the Government of the United Kingdom, the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI), the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with support from HELVETAS, the EU-funded EUPA4BiH Project, the AIRE Centre, and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), as part of the preparations for the London Summit.