Exchange of experiences and practices between Europe and Central Asia on asset recovery and asset management

Promoting transparency and action against economic crime

Over the recent years the countries of Central Asia have pursued reforms designed to prevent and punish corrupt practices in order to improve business climate in the region and promote sustainable economic development for the benefit of all. The present Action aims to contribute to improving the conditions for businesses and to enhancing the quality of anti-corruption systems across the region. The Action comprises two components: 1) Business integrity and compliance; 2) Anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and asset recovery systems.

Business integrity and compliance

Enhancing transparency, business integrity and the protection of rights of entrepreneurs is one of the priorities of the countries of the Central Asian region. The current Action focuses on establishing mechanisms and enhancing capacities to address extortion and solicitation from businesses, reducing administrative barriers and enhancing compliance across the business sector. On the regional level, the aim of the intervention is to establish effective mechanisms for sharing good practices and to contribute to developing a clearer understanding of the common regional and cross-border corruption risks facing the business sector. On the national level, the Action focuses on the specific priorities of the respective countries in the abovementioned thematic areas and seeks to provide tailor-made assistance to reforms.

Anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and asset recovery systems

Work in this area concentrates on improving mechanisms and capacities of authorities, including law enforcement, to prevent and tackle corruption, money laundering and economic crime as well as on strengthening national systems to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. The regional dimension of the component includes conducting studies on corruption and economic crime focusing on specific regional risks and threats, and regional cascade training programmes for law enforcement personnel and civil service staff. The national dimension focuses on the specific needs and demand, depending on the national contexts and reform processes.

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Back Exchange of experiences and practices between Europe and Central Asia on asset recovery and asset management

Comparative good practices on recovery, management and disposal of frozen, seized or confiscated proceeds of crime were shared with around 100 practitioners and policy makers of Central Asian and European jurisdictions. They also learned more on how to enhance co-operation in the region and with Europe for asset recovery purposes.

The regional workshop on “Asset Recovery through improved international cooperation in Europe and Central Asia” event organised in Astana (Kazakhstan) on 27-28 October 2022 reflected the interest expressed by Central Asian stakeholders in acquiring knowledge from relevant practices from different jurisdictions in asset recovery and asset management systems as well as understanding the available mechanisms of international co-operation in asset recovery.

Central Asian countries have undertaken several steps to consolidate their Anti-Money Laundering systems including their financial investigation procedures to increase the number of recovered assets. However, additional efforts to consolidate these achievements are needed.

The Action “Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime” of the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2023 will continue to deliver expertise on how to improve the effectiveness of the asset recovery and asset management systems in the region.

This activity was organised by the Action on “Promoting Transparency and Action against Economic Crime” of the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2023, which is a joint initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.

ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN 27 - 28 OCTOBER 2022