Protocol Conference “TIE - Tackling the Illegal Economy”
Stara Zagora 4 -5 June 2014
Within the project TIE - Tackling the Illegal Economy, funded by the European Commission,
DG Home Affairs, ISEC program fund financial and economic crime (FINEC), coordinated by
the NGO "LIBERA", in Stara Zagora on 4 and 5 June 2014 took place 5th International partner
Conference, organized by the BIBO- Bulgarian Italian Business Organization - bulgarian partner
in the project. The main theme and subject of discussion and debate were
"Origin, state of the art and strategies for combating organized crime and illegal
structures in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe over the last twenty years"
The conference was moderated by Dr. Rosen Dimov
Opening and congratulations
Greetings and opening of the conference by Mrs Tania
Benedetti, president of BIBO - Bulgarian-Italian Business
Organization and host of the event
Ms. Benedetti congratulated the participants and guests for
your interest in the subject, the subject of this forum and thanks to the presence of all though sad
day for Stara Zagora-announced mourns murdered 4-year-old pedestrian zone dishonest driver.
In her speech, Ms Benedetti stressed questionableness of organized crime and its negative impact
in every sphere of our lives. But our ability to talk about it openly with facts and names makes us
stronger, freer and it is our powerful weapon in the fight against its existence and expansion..
Ms. Benedetti invited all participants after the statements of the speakers to be active not so much
questions as facts and events they have witnessed or opinions and recommendations based on
their experience or citizenship or civil position. This will be of particular benefit and added value
to the project since the end product of the entire project will be a document with
recommendations on best practices to combat organized crime, especially illegal economy in
each EU Member State and a partner in this project.
Francesco Martino - Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso.
Topic "Origin, state of the art of the organized crime in
Eastern Europe "in which I am here to talk much
extensive
All the countries of Eastern Europe lived his transformation transition from totalitarianism and
state economy in liberalization and a free market and it's the only common factor which unites
them as geopolitical Balkans or Eastern Europe. In fact, every country has its own style of
profiteering from criminal acts. In this sense, Ex Yugoslavia differs significantly from all others
because of the war. For reasons of clarity I would like to focus on specific cases.
Here Mr.
Martin outlines in detail the organization of criminal groups and profiteering by criminal means
in the particular case of the sale of arms to drug trafficking through the story of a key character
that became an international boss nicknamed "Il Pope" namely Darko Sharic arrested in Uruguay
in 2009 in a joint operation with the United States. Speaking of accumulated benefits worth 320
million euros until the arrest of Darko Sharic.
The topic continues with additions and analysis
Matteo Tacconi Journalist - Economy, markets and politics in CEE, SEE and former USSR
Birth of crime there are two processes:
- banditizm
- banditizm against the authorities (the Italian case)
In later Sicilian Mafia took advantage of the free market and acts as an entrepreneur. Turkish
mafia is very similar to Italian. Russian Mafia also has roots banditism and revenge to the
political power.
As for the growth in recent years, this is the transformation of the the mafia in white collar and
the transformation of capi mafia in entrepreneurs and business owners.
large role in the globalization of the mafia has Turkey, 70 years was the largest producer and
exporter of heroin and opium.
Currently 90% opium and 60% refined heroin globally be produced in Afghanistan. So Turkey
today has become manufacturer broker, by continuing to be the most important factor in the
illegal trade and trafficking of drugs. So I confirmed that if Turkey was not, perhaps there would
be no drug market.
The seminar continues Mr. Stoyan Vlaykov - ex Inspector General
Criminal Police, Stara Zagora.
The theme that Mr. Vlaykov head is
"Roots, models, facts, stories and links to crime
in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe."
One of the models of a criminal organization is one that finances political parties.
Another type of criminal groups are on a family basis "family clans." They smuggle medical
products throughout Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Poland, and the with accumulated funds used
way back for the transfer of amphetamines on Turkey, Afghanistan, Iraq. The profit from this
type of smuggling 4.7% of the gross domestic product of Bulgaria.
Another model is the trafficking of people, mostly women for sexual favors -1.8 billion euros a
year.
Drug trafficking - usually to Italy, Spain, Germany, where profit is multiplied 6-10 times.
Trafficking in stolen cars - from Italy, Spain, Germany to Syria Ex USSR, Iraq.
Diesel - gain from 2.3 to 6 billion lev year
Money counterfeiting.
The following questions and comments from the audience, as were affected topics:
- The protection of cultural and historical values;
- Direct impact on the business of criminal organizations;
- Confiscation of illegally acquired property;
- Effective use of such confiscated - get debate with questions and recommendations.
Despite the many affected themes, the day ended with a clear desire by both the institutions and
the civil society these topics to be deepened and more often discussed in such a transparent way
because it is a mandatory step for mutual trust and achieving results in the fight against organized
crime.
Start of the second day of the conference gave Marco Genovese - Coordinator of TIE -
LIBERA. He made a review the path of the project since its inception, priorities and desired
result. He followed the events of the project, paying attention to the role and contribution of each
partner to date and analyze the similarity of the action of the mafia in all European countries.
Announced the next major step namely that in October 2014 in Rome will be officially presented
research results of a major event in Rome under the title of "Contro mafia"
Sig. Genovese remarked call of the representatives of institutions from each partner country
about the need for a common European strategy and better coordination at European level on the
fight against crime.
The huge flow of money into hiding
Financial Crimes and organized
crime in Europe is the theme that opens
Professor Vincenzo Ruggiero
- Professor of Sociology, Middlesex University, Лондон.
The information that you offer've used
Official sources are: EC, Europol, UN,
European Central Bank.
Europe been divided into separate criminal areas:
- Scandinavian
- Baltic
- Eastern Europe and the Balkans
- Southern Europe
Each area has its own methodology of crime.
Professor Ruggiero describes various traffic patterns at the regional level and cross-border
cooperation. Giving examples lists commodities traffic:
- drugs
- migrants
- Transport services
- VAT fraud (VAT) gain over 5 billion euro
- Criminal business of white-collar
- Trafficking in cigarettes or making false Poland, Ukraine
- Printing of counterfeit notes
- Registration of offshore companies
- International networks
The biggest success of the Mafia is to create a method for formalization and legalization of funds
obtained by criminal and illegal manner. It exists even with this method because someone
supports it says in conclusion Prof. Ruggiero.
"Strategies to combat organized crime and illegal structures in Bulgaria and Eastern
Europe over the last twenty years," has hit the financial Inspector Angel Filipov and judge
Plamen Zlatev.
Mr. Angel Filipov touch upon basically the problem
of organized crime and make a statement on few
basic law in Bulgaria
•
For PPL / Public Procurement Law / mentioned practices are not in moral frameworks, eg
in Bulgaria is necessary to have three bids for a contract but when I applied there are
cases in which it appears that the three offers from three different companies with the
same owner;
•
Analyse and Mr. Filipov "the forfeiture to the State of illegally acquired property", the
late adoption by the National Assembly and controversial debate make valid law of
19/11/2012, it shows not gained much practice because Mr Filipov mention, that
"Bulgaria can use the best practices of other countries of the European family" and was
an example of Italy, where the law works for many years. Explained that Bulgaria already
has a structure that deals with this activity, the law is designed, that this structure has four
members committee, indicating a representative from the Council of Ministers of the
Presidency and a member of the parliamentary parties, is not legally possible to have two
members of a parliamentary group;
•
It was affecting channel drugs passing through Bulgaria, this channel is known as the
"Silk Road" and in Bulgaria only passing, used the channel to reach the goods to other
sources;
•
Financial instruments and mechanisms used by organized crime make us more informed
analyzes Mr. Filipov. He gave an example of how cash flows move from one place to
another to not force institutions to analyze the movement, explained how as Switzerland,
which is in the Schengen area but is not a member of the European Union, the bailiff can
not seize a bank account in that territory, have the possibility of other mechanisms
complied with international law and directives, but the given case, may be delayed and
prolonged. In European Union countries account could be sequestration by a bailiff.
Another practice as it is to transfer money through WESTERN Union and Money Gram
and the ability of these systems to translate cash flows to anywhere in the world,
weighing can be performed with just an ID card from the same person from multiple
sources from one location and from several locations;
•
According to Mr. Filipov in the EU operate around 3600 international criminal
organizations. Ability to be part of the European Parliament led him to strongly support
the idea of building a common framework, to include more - good judicial and police
cooperation, the creation of public prosecution service at EU level to coordinate national
investigations and measures against banking secrecy and tax havens. According to him,
one of the - the great achievements of the EU single market, but you have to make sure
that companies convicted of corruption or money laundering, be excluded from
participation in public procurement across the EU. Data presented and the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime, which showed that illegal activity represents 3.6% of world
GDP, and the Commission estimates the damage from corruption only in the EU 120
billion euros per year or 1.1% of EU GDP. And he thinks that should be considered a
crime, adjusting your sports scores and vote buying, although benefits are intangible.
Mr. Plamen Zlatev judge of the District Court of Stara Zagora present the and analyzes the
basic "Law on Forfeiture of the State of illegally acquired property".
•
He said that this law regulates the conditions and procedure for forfeiture of illegally
acquired state property. The Commission for forfeiture of criminal property hereinafter
"the Commission" is a permanent independent specialized state body. The Commission is
a collective body, composed of five members, including the chairman and deputy
chairman. Chairman of the Committee shall be a person with a law degree and at least 10
years experience. Vice-President and members of the committee may be persons with
higher legal or economic education and at least 5 years experience. Commission initiates
proceedings under this Act when it can make a reasonable assumption that a property is
illegally acquired. Reasonable assumption is present when after is found on inspection
significant disparity in the property of the inspected person. To the Committee can not be
formed on an anonymous tip. The court shall rule immediately with a definition of what
is granted or refused enforcement of a lien. Where it is not possible to take separate
property under Art. 62 takes cash equivalent is determined by the market price at the time
of submission of the request forfeiture. The Commission for forfeiture of criminal assets
exchange information for the purposes of this Act, the competent authorities of other
countries and international organizations on the basis of international agreements and
treaties that are in force in the Republic of Bulgaria.
Mr. Zlatev added many other practices related to the law.
In conclusion, Ms. Tania Benedeti thanked the each one of the speakers for the facts and
analysis, and the participants for their activity.
During these two days were involved so many different arguments, all part of the theme
combating organized crime and illegal economy.
Wishing you conferences like this to be the beginning of a process of meetings and open debate
between institutions and civil society organizations such as BIBO Bulgarian-Italian Business
Organization to be leading figures in development of opinions, proposals and join forces in the
fight against the different models of crime and the soil of its existence.
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