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Friday, 06 June 2025

RINSE Project Training for Judges and Prosecutors on Freezing, Confiscation and Management of Criminal Assets in Greece and in the European Union

On May 27-29 2025, the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) successfully organized a three-day Training Workshop for National Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers on “Freezing, Confiscation and Management of Criminal Assets in Greece and in the European Union” at its premises in Athens.

The Training Workshop was attended by over 30 senior Judges, Public Prosecutors and Lawyers from Athens and other areas of Greece, including Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Corinth, Sparta, Chalkida, Heraklion and Syros. In addition, the event was attended by senior officials of the Hellenic Legal Council of the State, as well as investigators of the General Directorate of Financial and Economic Crime Unit (SDOE) of the Hellenic Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The training was organized in collaboration with the Greek Association of Judges and Prosecutors in the framework of the Project “Research and Information Sharing on Freezing and Confiscation Orders in European Union - RINSE”, implemented by the EPLO and funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers.

In furtherance of the RINSE project objectives, the workshop aimed to enhance the competencies and practical skills of Greek justice and legal practitioners on the recovery and management of criminal assets, including procedures for mutual legal assistance both within and outside the European Union. The training sessions followed a practical approach, combining interactive discussions, case studies and simulations, and were tailored to the needs of justice professionals in Greece.

The event was opened with welcome addresses by the Vice President of the Greek Association of Judges and Prosecutors, Mr. Charalampos Sevastidis and the Director of the EPLO Prof. Sypirodon Flogaitis. The training sessions were conducted by prominent Greek and international experts, including Prof. Ilias Anagnostopoulos, Em. Professor of Criminal Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mr. Ilias Konstanteas, Director of the General Directorate of Financial and Economic Crime Unit (SDOE), Mr. Konstantinos Skouvaris, Investigating Judge for International Judicial Cooperation with the Court of Misdemeanours of Athens, Mr. David Mattan, International Prosecutor and Senior Asset Recovery Specialist, Ms. Aikaterini Koliokosta, Financial Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal of Athens, Mr. Dimitrios Apostolas, Financial Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal of Athens, Prof. Ioannis Androulakis, Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Prof. Ioannis Morozinis, Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Dr. Alexandros Tsagkalidis, criminal defence lawyer and Senior Researcher and Trainer with EPLO.

In addition, during the various workshop sessions, Mr. Sivio Cabbidu, Italian Police Liaison Officer of the International Police Cooperation Service at the Embassy of Italy in Athens, shared best practices and insights on the recovery and confiscation of criminal assets in Italy.

The RINSE project aims to enhance the mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders within the European Union, as well as to promote the social and institutional reuse of confiscated assets. The project website provides detailed information about the initiative, the training activities, and numerous resources, including the series of podcasts “RINSE Talks About Confiscating Assets in the European Union. The Podcast that Follows Dirty Money”, available also on Spotify and YouTube.

tags: RINSE Project, EU, Greece, Training Workshop