On 28th and 29th May 2024, the BAMIN Steering Group, supported by the BAMIN Secretariat, which is under the stewardship of Fondazione SAFE, gathered for the third time in 2024 in Skopje, North Macedonia. The meeting was attended by Agency Directors and Asset Managers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, hosted by the Presidency of North Macedonia.
A pivotal moment of the meeting was the handover of the BAMIN Presidency to Moldova North Macedonia, with the traditional signature of the BAMIN Flag. This flag is kept by each presidency. Signing a tradition going back to 2017, origin of the network. From May 2024 until May 2025 the BAMIN Presidency will therefore be held by the North Macedonian Agency for Management of Seized and Confiscated Property.
The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the network’s operational strategy, exchange best practices as well as discuss the development of asset management and arising needs. In particular, the Steering Group addressed one of the issues raised by the new EU Asset Recovery and Confiscation Directive 2024/1260. Namely, Article 29, provides for the establishment of cooperation platforms for asset recovery and management, emphasising the importance of international collaboration in this field.
BAMIN is also looking forward to the approaching of the BAMIN Annual General Meeting hosted by the North Macedonian Presidency in September. In addition, training on the effective management of crypto assets is planned back-to-back with the AGM. With the new Presidency of North Macedonia, BAMIN is preparing to reinforce its commitment and continue promoting cooperation and sharing best practices in the field of asset management.
Fondazione SAFE is the proud implementer of the BAMIN Secretariat ensuring the overall overseeing of the Network and its representation in international fora; BAMIN is funded by the OSCE through the project “Providing support to Asset Management Offices” within the framework of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Strengthening Asset Recovery Efforts in the OSCE Region” OSCE extra-budgetary project n. 1102457