Vienna, Austria: On 1st and 2nd June we held a Thematic Meeting on dismantling of smuggling networks: international cooperation and investigations.
Expert-level representatives were invited to attend the sessions and this included law enforcement officials, as well as practitioners and investigators, including frontline responders.
The objective of the thematic meeting was to provide a better understanding of the complex system in which smuggling networks operate, and the tools and methodology of smuggling. The goal was also to aid understanding of the opportunities to detect, investigate and prosecute smuggling networks within Budapest Process territories/countries. In addition, the aim was to understand and implement good practice in national/domestic investigations as well as cross-border investigation.
Opening Statements were given by the Chair of the Budapest Process, Turkey; the Virtual Host of the meeting, Bulgaria; the Co-Chair of the Budapest Process, Hungary; the European Commission; and the Secretariat of the Budapest Process, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
The Budapest Process is an inter-regional dialogue on migration chaired by Turkey and co-chaired by Hungary. It is funded by the European Commission, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Switzerland and Turkey.
