Description
Partner: Council of Europe Objective: Increased effectiveness and efficiency of the Asset Recovery system in Bulgaria Organization of brainstorming workshop with institutions involved in asset recovery; Preparation of a comprehensive Assessment/Study on institutional and legal framework; Road mapping and provision of min one multi-disciplinary training on the implementation of the asset recovery legislation; Road mapping related one multi-disciplinary training on institutional roles and their set up for cooperation and exchange of information; Provision of a workshop on exchange of good practices for the Commission and all cooperating institutions; Provision of one multi-disciplinary training on AR system based on the needs assessment in the Action plan; Provision of one specialized training in Bulgaria for Commission and other institutions staff by experts from European countries as well as on court decisions; One training course in specialized English legal and administrative terminology for the Commission and other relevant institutions staff; Supply of the equipment and training by the contractor (the video-conferencing system).
Summary of project results
The project aimed to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the Asset Recovery System in Bulgaria and enhance citizens security through improvement of the efficiency of cooperation with law enforcement and other authorities in Schengen and other countries in fighting economic and organised crime, and effectively recovering assets. Another objectives were to increase capacities of the Commission and other national institutions staff/inspectors through study visits and specialised trainings and improve IT and Communications System, supporting the Asset Recovery in Bulgaria. Various trainings were held under the project – workshops, multi-disciplinary trainings, language courses, etc. A total of 286 representatives from the Commission for Illegal Assets Forfeiture (CIAF), the Prosecutor’s Office, State Agency National Security, Ministry of Justice, etc. participated in the trainings. Another 370 officials (one official attended more than one language course and/or level) were given the opportunity to improve their language skills in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. That makes a total of 643 state officials trained under the project. The output indicators was overachieved (almost twice as many) due to the good planning of the financial resources, the greater number of trainings/courses than the estimated one and the determination of the state institutions to avail of the possibility to enlist as many officials as possible. In addition, some of the trainings were held by experts form counterpart institutions form the United Kingdom and France, as well as from the Council of Europe which contributed to the beneficial exchange of expertise, knowledge and best practices. As regards the second indicator 16 trainings/study visits were held in the project lifetime which makes this indicator overachieved, too. As aforementioned the reason again lies in the well-planned expenditures and the available time for their organization. The last output shows the types of equipment supplied. The envisaged three different types of equipment – IT, network, and videoconference system, were delivered, installed and put into exploitation. The equipment shall not only ease the routine of the CIAF’s officials but also the videoconference system gives the opportunity of a faster and reliable communication between the headquarters and the local structures.
Summary of bilateral results
The opportunity to have the Council of Europe as project partner was an immense advantage for the Promoter. Not only was the Partner's expertise used in each phase of the project implementation but CoE became a warrant of its sustainability by focusing the attention of Bulgarian authorities on the necessity to apply internationally recognized standards in order to achieve stability and continuity of the asset recovery system. The project created the basis for the future implementation of projects in partnership. Some of the major activities implemented were the comprehensive assessment/study on institutional and legal framework in Bulgaria, the exchange of best practices and expertise, the experts lecturing at the trainings held, etc.