Auto Added by WPeMatico
Source: Europol
This Taskforce aims to help identify suspects and their involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide crimes committed in Ukraine through the collection and analysis of open source intelligence (OSINT).Since the outbreak of the war, there is an unprecedented level of OSINT available online, largely owing to the growing importance of the internet and social media. Such intelligence…
Source: Europol
Operation MOZAIK 2023 was led by the Slovenian National Police and coordinated by Europol in the framework of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). It aimed to identify and arrest people using online forums and messaging applications to share and distribute child sexual abuse material. The Western Balkan countries –Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia –…
Source: NATO
From 17 to 19 November 2023, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, and the Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Ambassador Boris Ruge, attended the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrein. NATO’s key message at this conference was that it wants to find ways to deepen Partnerships in its Southern neighbourhood. Admiral Bauer expressed this during a panel discussion on “Strategies and Capabilities”. In addition, the NATO delegation had a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of Bahrein, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, France and Germany.
In the panel discussion on defence modernisation, Admiral Bauer spoke alongside Dr Khalid Al-Biyari, Assistant Minister for Executive Affairs at the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence and Admiral Tony Radakin, United Kingdom Chief of the Defence Staff. In his opening remarks, the Chair explained that cooperative security essentially underpins the other two core tasks of the Alliance: collective defence and crisis management. “With the security situation being as volatile as it is, NATO wants and needs to invest more time and energy in our partnerships around the world.”
Admiral Bauer stated that NATO has decades of cooperation to build on, through the frameworks of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and the Mediterranean dialogue. Cooperation with Partners ranges from information exchange, military education and training to operating side by side in a NATO mission or operation. “Military cooperation with Partners means that you have access to new ways of working and different threat perceptions, as well as potential new solutions. It strengthens defence and deterrence for all parties involved”, he underscored.
Attending the conference was also an opportunity to interact and meet with representatives of Nations present in the MENA region. The NATO delegation had bilateral meetings with:
Admiral Bauer noted the importance of building dialogue and cooperation with both NATO Partners and designated contact Nations. “The MENA region has always been of strategic importance to NATO. NATO Nations share many of the same challenges as the Nations in the region, such as those posed by extremists groups, terrorism or nuclear proliferation; but they have different approaches to tackling these challenges. Therefore, through dialogue and cooperation we can learn best practices and improve the way we respond to these global threats”, he emphasised.
At the Vilnius Summit earlier this year, Allies launched a deep reflection on NATO’s relationship with its southern neighbourhood. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has appointed a group of independent experts to support a review of NATO’s approach to its southern neighbourhood – particularly the Middle East, North Africa and Sahel regions. Professor Ana Santos Pinto of Portugal was appointed as Chair. The aim is to agree concrete proposals in time for the next NATO Summit, due to take place in Washington, D.C. in July 2024.
Source: NATO
From 19 to 22 November 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Jens Stoltenberg, will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia.
On Sunday, 19 November, the NATO Secretary General will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he will have a working dinner with the members of the Presidency.
On Monday, 20 November, Secretary General Stoltenberg will meet the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Christian Schmidt. He will also meet the Chairlady of the Council of Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms Borjana Krišto. Mr Stoltenberg will visit NATO Headquarters Sarajevo and have meetings with military leaders and representatives of the international community.
On the same day, the Secretary General will continue his trip to Kosovo, where he will have discussions with Ms Vjosa Osmani-Sandriu and Mr Albin Kurti. He also visit NATO’s KFOR Camp Nothing Hill, where he will meet KFOR’s Commander Major General Ulutaş, and address the troops. He will also meet with the Director of the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team, Brigadier General Hammerstein.
On Tuesday, 21 November, the Secretary General will be in Belgrade. He will have meetings with the President of Serbia, Mr Aleksandar Vučić and the Prime Minister, Ms Ana Brnabić. Mr Stoltenberg will also engage with Serbian scientists who will present technology developed in the context of NATO’s Science for Peace and Security projects.
Later that day, Mr Stoltenberg will travel to the Republic of North Macedonia to meet with President Stevo Pendarovski and the Prime Minister, Mr Dimitar Kovačevski. The Secretary General will also meet the President of the Assembly of North Macedonia, Mr Talat Xhaferi, and give a speech to the parliament.
On Wednesday, 22 November, the Secretary General will participate in a meeting with Allied leaders from the region. The Prime Minister of Albania, Mr Edi Rama; the President of Croatia, Mr Zoran Milanović; the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Mr Milojko Spajić; and the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Mr Robert Golob, have been invited to attend.
Media Advisory
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kosovo
Serbia
Republic of North Macedonia
Media Coverage
The Secretary General’s press conferences, as well as his doorstep statements with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia and his address to the Assembly of North Macedonia, will be streamed live on the NATO website.
Transcripts of the Secretary General’s engagements, as well as photographs, will be available on the NATO website after the events.
For more information:
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter)
Source: Europol
Over 50 most wanted criminals newly uploaded to the websiteThis year’s campaign sees a fresh batch of wanted criminals uploaded to the website. Over 50 profiles of fugitives linked to serious crimes have been uploaded to the website this year. Some of the crimes committed by fugitives highlighted in this year’s list include murder, trafficking in human beings, armed robbery…
Source: NATO
Around 200 Ukrainian medics have completed NATO training that will help Ukraine’s healthcare system to cope with the devastating impact of Russia’s war. The activity was organised jointly by Romania and NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), and funded by six Allies. The participants are first responders from different Ukrainian agencies, the National Guard, the National Police, the State Emergency Service, the State Border Guard Service, as well as medical units of the Ministry of the Interior. They are involved in rescue operations and provide critical medical services to civilians during Russian missile and artillery strikes.
The training was launched following Ukraine’s request for NATO assistance to help its medical system, which is under strain from the conflict and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This project is already helping Ukrainians receive better medical care, and will increase Ukraine’s resilience in the longer term. It’s a prime example of what can be achieved when Allies join forces and direct their solidarity and resources through NATO,” said Tom Goffus, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations. He praised Romania for its staunch support to this project, and expressed gratitude to the Allies whose donations made it possible.
The NATO EADRCC managed the programme’s implementation and the cost – 442,701 Euro – was covered by donations made by Czechia, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Romanian Department of Emergency Situations offered the training classes and practical experience, while the country’s International Organisation of Migration also supported the project. Romania also hosted the activities in Oradea and Targu Mures.
Source: NATO
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs to NATO Headquarters on Thursday (16 November 2023) to discuss continued support for Ukraine and the ongoing implementation of decisions taken at the Vilnius Summit.
Mr Stoltenberg thanked President Rinkēvičs for Latvia’s contributions to the Alliance, including increased defence spending, investments in new capabilities like HIMARS, and contributions to NATO operations and missions in Kosovo and Iraq. Latvia also hosts a Canadian-led battlegroup and will host NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission next year.
The Secretary General welcomed Riga’s significant political and military support to Ukraine, saying: “this is even more important now, as the situation on the battlefield is very difficult.” He added: “that is not an argument for less support; it is an argument for more support. This matters not just for Ukraine’s security, but for our security.”
The Secretary General emphasised that NATO will become even stronger when Sweden joins, saying: “we look forward to welcoming Sweden as a fully Ally very soon”.
Source: Europol
This type of crime is particularly prevalent in Germany. While the number of ATM robberies in the Netherlands is decreasing, most perpetrators are based in the Netherlands and operate from there. Their reliance on high-grade explosives, which they often assemble and store in residential areas, can cause serious risks to residents.Ruthless modus operandiWhen committing the crime itself, perpetrators typically act…
Source: Europol
Cannabis products are becoming increasingly potent and diverse, while collaboration between criminal groups is creating new security risks in Europe. These are among the conclusions of a new analysis — EU Drug Market: Cannabis — released today by the EMCDDA and Europol (1). The analysis describes the illegal European market for cannabis products, from production and trafficking to distribution and use….
Source: Europol
As a result of this investigation, six suspects were already arrested in Ukraine and four in the Czech Republic in April this year. Locations in Czechia (Domazlice, Rokycany and Plzen) and Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk) were searched during the raids, including the homes of the accused, vehicles and call centres.Mobile phones, SIM cards and computer equipment were seized during the crackdown.The criminal…