Between 20 and 23 November, EULEX organised a study visit for a delegation of the Kosovo Police (KP), including the Directorate for International Cooperation in the Rule of Law (ILECU) and the Chief of the Anti-Corruption Task Force, Shemsi Haziri, at the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) of the European Commission to further the cooperation between the two institutions.

The aim of the study visit was to familiarize the KP with methodologies of identification and investigation of new types of fraud crimes, as well as to improve the exchange of information in relation to illegal trafficking of goods and anti-fraud management.

“With this study visit the KP delegation was trained on specific tasks in line with the 2017 Administrative Agreement between the Kosovo Police and OLAF on information exchange, investigations, financial security, customs and fight against corruption”, stated Vincenzo Giancarlo Cardinale, Team Leader of the International Police Cooperation Unit. “I am confident the KP will achieve their goals in fighting economic crimes and corruption in cooperation with international actors and with EULEX’s support”, he added.

ILECU is also planning to increase the number of investigators with experience in financial crimes in relation to the future joint investigations and on-the-spot-checks with OLAF.

Fadil Haliti, Chief of Economic Crime with the KP, said: “It was a pleasure to attend this study visit as we have been closely informed about the OLAF’s mandate and procedures, including in fraud cases affecting EU funds”.