Fight against cybercrime calls for a multidisciplinary approach

Minister of Justice and Public Administration Ivan Malenica opened a two-day international conference “Southeastern European Cybercrime Summit”. 

Minister Malenica pointed out that cybercrime has become more and more common with the development of new technology and digital society. 

“In the last few years, we have had about 800 different cases relating to cybercrime”, he said, explaining that the response to cybercrime should go in the direction of amending the legislative framework, strengthening the capacity of authorities fighting cybercrime and educating all stakeholders in the system. 

“The aim of this conference, as well as everything else done by the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration through amendments to the legislative framework, especially the Criminal Code, is to strengthen the legislative framework and to harshen sanctions. The fight against cybercrime calls for a multidisciplinary approach, that is, a combination of law and technology.”

Referring to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the United States and signed on behalf of the Republic of Croatia by Minister Ivan Malenica and State Attorney General Zlata-Hrvoj Šipek, Minister Malenica said: “The Memorandum of Understanding signed with the United States of America will help our prosecutors, judges and investigators to be trained and to keep pace with the technologies."

The Minister expressed his desire for an even closer cooperation with the United States as well as with all Southeast European countries in the joint fight against cybercrime. 

Amy Davison, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Zagreb, referred to cybercrime as the biggest threat on a global scale, as it is a borderless crime. 

Ms Davison highlighted that the signed Memorandum was a sign of a strong commitment by the United States and its allies in the fight against cybercrime. She described the cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration in Croatia as an extraordinary long-term partnership, the Memorandum being just another tool for its further improvement.

“We are grateful for Croatia’s leadership in the fight against cybercrime in Southeastern Europe,” Davison said. 

“Traditionally, we have a good cooperation with the US Department of State and the US Department of Justice and their Embassy in Zagreb. This Memorandum is definitely a step forward because without our interconnection, without the exchange of information and evidence, and education and professional training on the latest technologies, there is no effective fight against cybercrime", emphasised State Attorney General Zlata Hrvoj-Šipek. 

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Bruce Swartz thanked Minister Malenica for his vision and the Republic of Croatia for cooperation in the fight against cybercrime. 

“This conference is historic because it has brought together a large number of world leaders”, he said.

The conference brought together leading experts from the state attorney’s offices, police, cyber security centres and judicial institutions of the United States and Southeast European countries.

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