SAFE, as a partner of the consortium led by Carabinieri (Italy) and composed also by the Environmental Guard (Romania) and the State Police of the Ministry of Interior (Latvia)– with the support of EUROPOL – has been officially awarded by the European Union, DG HOME, the project OPFA-WASTE (OPerational FAcility for fighting illicit waste trafficking). The project will last for 24 months with a budget of 607.000€.
OPFA-WASTE, represent a Europan Union flagship operational project which targets Illicit Waste Trafficking (in particular hazardous wastes), implemented by a consortium of EU specialized law enforcement and open to all European LEAs in its implementation. More than half of the budget will be allocated in an “open access” Operational facility serving as a bottom-up instrument for supporting investigations, support transnational cases in the field of IWT as well as funding bilateral meetings, technical support, training, interpretation and equipment.
This will promote police cooperation among EU MSs and support EUROPOL operational activities, discussing and developing new methodologies for sharing and analysing data and information, promoting the use of SIENA channel.
OPFA-WASTE foresees four main outcomes:
- Delivering updated methodologies and operational guidelines, enriched by suggestions and remarks collected during OPFA activities through questionnaires;
- Enhancing police cooperation, facilitating information sharing;
- Leverage existing networks (EnviCrimeNet, IMPEL, etc) and ensure strict coordination with EMPACT activities;
- Raising awareness on IWT to both institutions and citizens.
This project represents another milestone for SAFE in the pursuing of Security and Freedom Worldwide.