Austria Extends Support for Ukraine’s Fight Against Organised Crime
December 13, 2024
As the war in Ukraine continues, the country faces additional challenges from organised crime. This includes financial crime and money laundering; it fosters corruption and undermines the rule of law and democratic progress. To address these challenges, the Austrian Government launched a project last year in partnership with EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine to strengthen the capacities of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in the liberated territories.
Today, on 13 December, EUAM and the Austrian Government announced an extension to this project with an additional support of €170,000. This funding will further enhance the capabilities of key agencies, including the National Police of Ukraine (NPU), State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Economic Security Bureau (ESBU), State Financial Monitoring Service (SMFSU), Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), and the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), enabling them to investigate and prosecute financial and corruption-related crimes more efficiently, using EU best practices.
“This initiative equips our Ukrainian partners with the skills and tools they need to tackle complex organised crime cases,” said Rolf Holmboe, EUAM’s Head of Mission. “Through capacity building and advice, we are helping Ukrainian authorities adopt globally recognised tools for investigating financial crimes and misuse of funds. This builds on the foundation of training and operational support delivered in the project’s initial phase,” he adds.
The project employs a “train & equip” approach, which combines tailored expert advice, hands-on training and the provision of modern equipment and specialised software. This approach ensures that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies can carry out their tasks efficiently. Earlier this year, training sessions in Austria gave participants practical experience in advanced investigative techniques while fostering professional links with EU counterparts.
“Austria is proud to stand with Ukraine in this fight,” said Arad Benkö, the Austrian Ambassador to Ukraine. “This project shows how international collaboration and shared expertise, drawing on the best practices from the EU and worldwide, can help strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and bring about real, lasting change,” he concluded.
The initiative reinforces Ukraine’s resilience through an integrated approach to addressing these key challenges. By promoting knowledge-sharing and building strong professional links in Ukraine as well as with international partners, this project paves the way for sustainable progress in combating organised crime and corruption.
