Brussels, 24/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 20 November, the European Commission presented a communication setting out a series of confiscation and recovery of proceeds of crime priorities. “We need to hit criminals where it hurts them most. The confiscation of the proceeds of crime is one of the most effective means to tackle organised crime and therefore one of the cornerstones of the EU wide anti-crime strategy,” said Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Jacques Barrot in a press release. The communication calls on member states to ensure that effective Asset Recovery Offices are up and running in each of the 27 EU states. Such offices facilitate the tracing of criminal assets, participate in confiscation procedures and ensure the proper management of seized assets, says the Commission proposing that EUROPOL could ensure regular contacts between Asset Recovery Offices to ensure the smooth exchange of information. Another priority is to improve the exchange of information with non-EU Asset Recovery Offices. EUROJUST should also have a greater role to make it easier for magistrates to freeze and confiscate the proceeds of crime. A common EU training programme for financial investigators is to be established. The Commission believes that better European statistics on freezing, confiscating and recovering assets are needed. It suggests that action can be complemented by future streamlining and updating of existing EU legislation. (B.C./transl.rt)