MEPs from the temporary committee on organised crime complete their first fact-finding visit to Belgrade.

Serbian crime under scrutiny

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The European Parliament's temporary  committee on organised crime

has completed its first visit  to the Serbian capital, Belgrade.

Serbia is now a candidate  for EU membership

and the purpose of the delegation was  to find out more about the Balkan routes

for the illicit trade in arms,  drugs and people smuggling.

In this context, the Balkan countries play  an essential role,

especially Serbia because it is the 'country  of entry' for criminal organisations.

They use Serbia as a route  to gain access to the EU countries.

During the three-day visit,  the ten MEPs from the CRIM Committee

met with representatives of the prosecutors'  office, the police and the judiciary.

In the last few years  we have really made huge progress.

A lot of criminal groups which operated  in Serbia – but also internationally –

have, through our efforts and co-operation  with other countries, been destroyed.

Delegation members  also sounded out opinions

and listened to analyses by government  and civil society organisations.

They stressed the importance of the political  will to enforce existing legislation

and to enhance the efficiency  of the various state institutions

involved in combating  organised crime and corruption.

I hope that as we progress  towards the European Union

there will be more political will  because that is obviously essential

and without that  we can't make any progress.

In the Council we're counting on  having more pressure

to implement this legislation,  not just pass it.

There is not sufficient capacity and because  of that we need capacity-building measures

in public administration, especially  for the intelligence services and the police.

Serbia has to wait until late September  to see the CRIM Committee's first report,

when it will also provide recommendations  to help Serbia meet the criteria

required of a candidate country fighting  crime and corruption.