Croatia and Serbia together against organised crime

Hot on the heels of the publication of the UN’s 2010 World Drug Report that raised the issues of corruption and a lack of regional cooperation in the Balkans, Croatia and Serbia yesterday signed a treaty allowing the extradition of people wanted in connection with organised crime. Serbian Justice Minister Snezana Malovic said the treaty achieved two of Serbia’s policy goals – European integration and the intensification of the fight against organised crime. Malovic’s Croatian counterpart Ivan Simonovic described the treaty as “a reflection of a clear and determined intent” of the two countries to stand together in this fight. The full UN report can be found here.
Gallup Balkan Monitor surveys have consistently highlighted these two issues. In 2009, more than two-thirds of respondents in all countries of the Western Balkans (with the exception of Montenegro) saw corruption as widespread within businesses and government and these figures – especially in the business world – have tended to rise across the board since 2006. That survey showed that 91%-92% of Serbs and Croats felt that corruption in business was widesread. The findings also showed strong support for greater neighbourhood ties; in Serbia, 63% of respondents wanted more regional cooperation, up from 62% in 2008, while in Croatia, the respective figures were 51% and 43%.