During 22-24 October 2019, SIRACUSA International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights organized the first National Strategic Dialogue on Illicit Trade in Romania. The three-days programme involved representatives of the major national institutions engaged in the fight against illicit trade such as criminal justice officials responsible for combating illicit trade, criminal investigators, intelligence analysts, prosecutors and members of the judiciary and many other national experts.
The event commenced with the opening remarks of Mr. Filippo Musca, Acting Director General of the Siracusa International Institute, His Excellency Marco Giungi, Ambassador of Italy to Romania, Mrs. Snejana Maleeva, Director General of SELEC, and Ms. Bianca- Georgiana Dumbrava, Personal Advisor of the Minister of Justice of Romania.
The initiative is organized within the framework of the Institute’s project “Strengthening the Fight Against Illicit Trade in South Eastern Europe” (SEE-IMPACT) that involves almost all SELEC Member States.
During her intervention, Mrs. Maleeva expressed SELEC’s full support to the project, and mentioned the importance of strengthening the law enforcement capacities in fighting against illicit trade, that is a criminal phenomenon which seriously impacts economies, markets and communities through the loss of the tax revenues. She continued stating that: “Through the criminally-derived profits, the criminal networks further finance organized crime, thus affecting the stability and security in Southeast Europe”.