The first of the three JUST-SHARE Capacity Building Workshops concluded in Sofia after three days of practical exchange on asset management and pre-seizure planning for complex physical assets. The next workshops will take place in Soave, Italy, and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The workshop brought together professionals involved in asset recovery to strengthen knowledge, exchange good practices and address the challenges of managing complex assets throughout the recovery process. Particular attention was given to the coordination required between institutions to ensure that assets are effectively identified, seized and managed.
Through a combination of practical exercises, case studies and institutional discussions, participants explored the different stages of the asset recovery chain. Working together in a tabletop exercise, they developed and presented a pre-seizure plan for pre-traced assets, bringing different institutional perspectives and expertise around the same table. The activities also addressed the operational aspects of seizure, including legal procedures, potential risks and mitigation measures, with a dedicated on-scene decision-making exercise.
The discussions then moved beyond seizure, focusing on the challenges of post-seizure asset management, including valuation, cost-benefit considerations, interlocutory sale and institutional responsibilities. Working through a fictitious case, participants examined the importance of coordination at every stage, from investigation and seizure to confiscation, sale and asset re-use.
The key takeaway? Effective asset recovery depends on every link in the chain and on close cooperation among the institutions involved.
All participants received Certificates of Attendance in recognition of their active participation and contribution to three days of knowledge exchange.
Fondazione SAFE’s role in JUST-SHARE
As Project Coordinator, Fondazione SAFE is responsible for the strategic, technical and administrative leadership of JUST-SHARE, ensuring effective project governance, coordination across the consortium and alignment with the objectives of the EU Justice Programme.
Drawing on its expertise in security, judicial cooperation and capacity building at EU level, SAFE leads the design and implementation of the workshop series, targeting representatives of judicial institutions, law enforcement agencies, Asset Recovery Offices (AROs), Asset Management Offices (AMOs) and policymakers.
These activities aim to strengthen practitioners’ knowledge and skills, facilitate the exchange of good practices, and foster mutual understanding and trust. SAFE also leads the development of a practical set of guidelines on effective inter-agency judicial cooperation in asset recovery, providing practitioners with an evidence-based tool to support cooperation in complex cases.
The journey continues in Soave, Italy, and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the next two JUST-SHARE workshops further strengthening cooperation and expertise in asset recovery.