Sep 28, 2026

Regional Workshop on updating the SEPCA Threat Assessment Report 2026

On September 24th, 2026, the Criminal Intelligence Service of Austria (BK) together with the Federal Police Administration of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, during its SEPCA Presidency in Office, organized the regional Workshop on updating the SEPCA Threat Assessment Report 2026, which was held in Vienna, Austria.

The event was funded by the BK through the Internal Security Fund 2021-2027 and brought together the analysts from SEPCA member states and experts from the BK, whose best practices and experiences contributed to the successful implementation of the workshop and further strengthened cooperation between these law enforcement agencies.

The workshop facilitated a comprehensive regional exchange of information, analytical perspectives and professional expertise in the preparation of the SEPCA Threat Assessment 2026. Participants reviewed and discussed key findings, regional trends and common challenges identified through the analytical work conducted by SEPCA member institutions. They also considered cross-cutting factors and emerging developments that may influence the criminal environment and law enforcement responses in the region.

The workshop provided an opportunity for strategic analysts and law enforcement representatives to exchange experiences, further develop the regional analytical picture and contribute to a common understanding of current and emerging security threats.

Thus, the SEPCA Threat Assessment Report 2026 will provide a strategic analysis of the threats posed by serious and organised crime in the SEPCA countries and will underline the new trends in the region that are also affecting EU countries. The Report will highlight the following five priorities that were identified as common threats in all SEPCA member states and represent the most serious security problems in the region:

• Illegal Migration;
• Human Trafficking;
• Illicit Drug Trafficking;
• Cybercrime;
• Organised Crime Groups.

These threats are not just SEPCA’s priorities, but are also the EU’s priorities in the fight against serious and organised crime as part of EMPACT 2026-2029. Additionally, the previously agreed-upon methodology, which was developed in accordance with Europol standards, will be applied.

Therefore, each priority identified in the SEPCA Threat Assessment Report will show the current state of security, their modus operandi, potential threats, consequences and risks, including the projection of the movement of each priority in the future, enabling a more efficient and effective exchange of data and information between the SEPCA member countries and the direction of joint work to counter the identified problems.

This Workshop represents another important activity within the SEPCA Presidency of the Federal Police Administration of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which assumed the Presidency following the SEPCA General Assembly held in Vlora, Albania, in December 2025.

The Federal Police Administration of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina expresses its appreciation to BK Austria for its continued support and contribution to strengthening regional police cooperation and professional analytical capacities.

Through activities such as this workshop, SEPCA continues to promote cooperation, information exchange and the development of common professional capacities among law enforcement institutions in South-East Europe.