Activities of the Transnational Threats Department good practices and identified challenges with regard to the meeting’s subject matter. A Key Finding and Outcomes document was compiled and disseminated on 6 December 2017 (SEC.GAL/180/17). The document highlights the need for enhanced capacity-building to identify, trace, seize and confiscate criminal proceeds, including in using existing legal instruments and co-operation mechanisms, countering money laundering, conducting financial investigations and pursuing effective international co-operation. On 15 and 16 November, TNTD/SPMU participated in the Annual Regional Meeting of Heads of Law Enforcement Departments of the OSCE field operations in Central Asia. The meeting held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was attended by representatives from all field operations in Central Asia and a number of participants from the OSCE participating States and NGOs which are engaged in police-related projects and programmes in Central Asian countries. The meeting focused especially on generating synergies in regional cooperation. Each stakeholder presented its activities, followed by discussions on collaboration and co-ordination. In addition, participants visited the Uzbekistan National Center for Drug Control and the Police Academy in Tashkent. On 27 November, TNTD/SPMU and UNODC co-organized a working meeting of representatives from relevant offices and departments of both organizations to discuss the review and extension of the OSCE-UNODC Joint Action Plan 20162017, in Vienna. Both parties presented proposals for the new Joint Action Plan 2017-2018, as well as concrete activities to implement it during the next two years. On 11 and 12 December, TNTD/SPMU participated in and contributed to the International Conference on Police Education and Training, titled “International Experience and National Perspective”, in Kyiv, Ukraine. The main objectives of the conference were to share good practices and trends in European police education and training to assist Ukrainian authorities and provide essential inputs for building up a modern police education system in Ukraine. Furthermore, the conference aimed to enhance co-operation between police training institutions and international organizations. TNTD gave a presentation on the “Swedish Model of Police Education”, the OSCE guidebook on Good Practices in Basic Police Training – Curricula Aspects and on the OSCE Police Academies Network (PAN). Activities Related to Threats Posed by Criminal Activity Organized Crime On 1 June, TNTD met with representatives of Europol in the Hague. Discussions focused on co-operation between the OSCE and Europol, including plans to formalize the cooperation within a written agreement. In addition, Europol experts briefed the TNTD delegation on the following: • Europol’s main role, responsibilities and present priorities; • SOCTA findings and priorities; • Europol’s Organized Crime Department main tasks, trends and priorities; • Europol’s Counter-Terrorism Department main tasks, trends and priorities; • Europol’s participation and activities linked to South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and South Caucasus countries; • European Migrant Smuggling Centre; • European Cybercrime Centre; • Visit to Europol’s operational rooms. Both parties agreed on enhancing collaboration between the two organizations and strengthening mutual support for each other’s activities. In line with provisions of a new Europol Regulation, which entered into force in 2017 and allows for agreements with “third parties”, Europol placed the OSCE on a list of partner organizations to make formal co-operation agreements with. A formal decision to enter into discussions on a formal agreement is pending clearance from the Europol Management Board. TNTD/SPMU activities in 2017 to address transnational organized crime were all cyber-related and are reported under the sub-chapter “Cybercrime” in this report. Cross-Border Co-operation in Criminal Matters From 16 to 18 May, TNTD/SPMU participated in the 45th INTERPOL European Regional Conference in St. Johann im Pongau, Austria, as an observer. The conference was attended by some 160 delegates from INTERPOL member countries and 30 observers from international organizations. The OSCE Secretary General gave the opening remarks of the conference. Participants discussed emerging threats from an international police perspective, including organized and financial crimes, terrorism and VERLT, drug trafficking, THB and smuggling of migrants and cybercrime. The conference especially addressed challenges and good practices in strengthening international co-operation among law enforcement services. Recommendations on strengthening 21