The annual meeting of El PAcCTO, the programme of technical assistance to Latin American countries established in 2017, was held in Panama from 8 to 12 November. It was financed by the European Union and Italy, through IILA, coordinates the pillar relating to cooperation in the penitentiary sector.
The meeting, with the theme “The finances of organised crime: what effects they produce and how to fight them”, was attended by over 150 representatives of European and Latin American justice and security institutions. Its primary purpose was strengthening international cooperation in the fight against transnational organised crime.
On behalf of Italy, Councillor Giovanni Tartaglia Polcini, Coordinator of Cooperation in the Penitentiary Sector and current Chairman of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group, led a delegation of the judiciary representatives and police forces, who took part in the eight technical tables. Councillor Lorenzo Salazar, Vice-Chairman of the OECD Anti-Corruption Group, also attended as an expert.
At the end of the week, the Panama Declaration was adopted. It reflects the participating countries’ concern about a “phenomenon that is acquiring worrying proportions worldwide. A change of strategy and proactive, coordinated and innovative responses that transcend borders, and established through constructive dialogue and effective cooperation between different actors are required”.
As part of the meeting, an Inter-Institutional Technical Committee (CTI) was established in Panama to coordinate the various Panamanian central authorities in international cooperation in the fight against organised crime. The signing of the CTI was attended by the Minister of Government Janina Tewaney, the Attorney General, Javier Jaraballo, the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Luis Ramon Fabrega, the EU Head of Delegation Chris Hoornaert, accompanied by Ambassador Fabrizio Nicoletti and the other European Heads of Mission accredited to Panama. It is evidence of the shared commitment at the EU level to strengthen the fight against corruption and transnational organised crime in Panama and the region.
During the week of work, the Italian Delegation advanced the planning of activities scheduled for 2022. The Panama meeting allowed the development of the negotiations for the Team Europe Initiative on Justice and Security (TEI J&S).
This action will define the use of funds from the new EU programming cycle in favour of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Italy will play a vital role in this multilateral technical assistance activity by enhancing the work done through IILA in a crucial sector to strengthen the rule of law in the region.
