4.7 The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine Background The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU) acts according to the MoU signed between the OSCE and the Government of Ukraine on 19 July 1999. The aim of this co-operation is to support Ukraine in fulfilling OSCE commitments through the adaption of legislation, structures and processes to the requirements of a modern democracy based on the rule of law. This co-operation focuses on the planning, implementation and monitoring of projects involving relevant Ukrainian authorities, the OSCE and its institutions. Such projects may cover all aspects of OSCE activities and may involve governmental as well as nongovernmental organizations of Ukraine. The OSCE PCU’s police-related activities are implemented through its Democratization and Good Governance Programme, Rule of Law and Human Rights Programme and Cross-Dimensional Programme. In accordance with the MoU, the staff of the OSCE PCU is composed of a core of internationally and locally hired staff required for the implementation of the projects. The size of the Co-ordinator's expert staff may change as required by projects. In 2012, the total number of international staff funded under the Unified Budget was three. Organized Crime In 2012, the PCU supported the development of a methodology for assessing risks and threats of organized crime in Ukraine that would enable the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), as the competent authority, to effectively and timely respond to possible causes of concern. Such methodology will give the competent authority the capacity to (1) obtain actual and objective information on the real and imminent risks and threats from organized crime; (2) diagnose areas of concern that require prompt and timely response to prevent and combat organized crime; and (3) plan, develop and implement prompt and efficient responses based upon the objective and actual assessment of the situation. This methodology will also enhance the SBU’s efforts to combat corruption as one of the elements of organized crime. The developed methodology was discussed during a round table attended by 40 national experts, law enforcement officers and academia. The PCU supported the organizational, methodological and human resources capacity of the SBU in the sphere of combating transnational organized crime through focused professional trainings. Two one-day training courses for officers of the SBU’s specialized departments focused on general issues of transnational threats; combating corruption; trafficking in human beings; as well as international drug trafficking as a threat to the national security of Ukraine. The training also addressed the implementation of the methodology of organized crime risk and threat assessments in Ukraine, as well as current methods and means of criminal analysis. These efforts were conducted in close co-operation with the OSCE TNTD/SPMU (see also chapter 2.2). In order to enhance international co-operation and learn from international experience, a study visit for four representatives of the SBU to the OSCE TNTD/SPMU and UNODC in Vienna was conducted from 28-29 June. The study visit was devoted to issues of improving data collection and analysis, developing and using risk and threat assessments and exchanging information and best practices. The visit further promoted liaisons between the TNTD/SPMU, UNODC and the national competent authorities in Ukraine in the spheres of transnational organized crime prevention, investigation and prosecution. 105