The regional workshop “Threats, vulnerabilities and emerging financial crime risks linked to cross-border criminal activity and measures for its detection and disruption”, brought together over 30 professionals from financial intelligence units, central banks, tax, and customs authorities from Azerbaijan, Armenia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine. Over the course of two days, participants examined how illicit actors exploit regulatory gaps and weak oversight across borders. Through presentations and case studies, the workshop explored advanced criminal tactics and discussed innovative approaches to detection and disruption, including the use of data analytics, public-private partnerships, and targeted supervisory strategies.
A key focus of the workshop was strengthening cross‑border cooperation. Expert-led sessions equipped participants with practical tools and strategies to improve inter-agency collaboration, strengthen detection capabilities, and effectively disrupt illicit financial operations that transcend national boundaries. The importance of data-driven methodologies and the sharing of intelligence in mitigating cross-border financial crime vulnerabilities was strongly emphasised.
This initiative reflects ongoing efforts of the Council of Europe to build regional resilience against complex financial crime schemes and support alignment with international standards on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, bolstering the capacities in the region to detect, investigate and disrupt complex financial crime networks. Moving forward, the Council of Europe will provide technical support in enhancing the investigation and prosecution of cross-border illicit financial flows for the law enforcement professionals from the relevant countries.
This event is part of the European Union and the Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the regional project on “Strengthening measures to prevent and combat economic crime in the Eastern Partnership region”.
