The Situation of Organised Crime and Possibilities for Combating It in the Western Balkans and Hungary

Nyeste, Péter (2025) The Situation of Organised Crime and Possibilities for Combating It in the Western Balkans and Hungary. MAGYAR RENDÉSZET, 25 (4). pp. 199-212. ISSN 1586-2895

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Abstract

Aim: The situation, state and danger of organised crime are fundamentally influenced by a country’s geopolitical conditions and security environment. The direct connection to EU Member States of the Western Balkans fundamentally influences the threats, security risks and challenges facing EU Member States. The Balkan corridor, which runs through the Western Balkan countries, is a particularly important transit route and hub for Europe, where organised crime has traditionally been present alongside legal migration, tourism and trade. Methodology: The study examines the situation of organised crime in the Balkan region and Hungary, as well as the special investigative tools used in law enforcement. In my research, I focused primarily on reviewing relevant international research, reports, threat assessments and studies. I also reviewed domestic and international legal materials related to the topic. Findings: Based on this, I first review the most important findings and assessments regarding the threat posed by serious and organised crime in Europe. I make findings and assessments concerning the criminal situation in the Western Balkans, in particular Serbia. Organised crime continues to be a significant problem in the Western Balkan countries. In general, Serbia has adequate anti-corruption, crime prevention and organised crime policies, but the main challenge remains their implementation. Proving that crimes committed in the Western Balkans were committed by criminal organisations continues to be a major challenge. One possible reason for this is that anti-corruption measures are not fully implemented, the independence of the judiciary is not sufficiently guaranteed, and criminal organisations can exert significant influence on the state administration. It would be necessary to strengthen the units combating organised crime, provide them with more substantial financial and technical assistance mechanisms, and support the fight against corruption to a greater extent, while reducing the political influence of organised crime.Value: The article may contribute to the understanding of the current organised crime situation in the Balkan countries and Hungary, and monitoring its changes may be the topic of further articles.

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